Marriage Equality Act (MEA)
Recently we have received several phone calls regarding the Marriage Equality Act. The Marriage Equality Act is the act which has changed the New York Domestic Relations Law to allow the parties to a marriage to be of the same sex.
This act also ensures that all benefits that are given to heterosexual married couples also be given to homosexual married couples; whether these benefits stem from legislation, common law, administrative or court rule, public policy or however else. This MEA has gone into effect as of July 24, 2011. In the Dickerson v. Thompson ruling, the Court points out the fact that The MEA also provides that valid out of state same sex marriages will be recognized and treated the same as valid in state marriages of any kind.
Long Island Divorce Attorneys
As always, if you have any questions regarding The Marriage Equality Act, please feel free to call the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 858-2620 to speak with a Family Lawyer!
Same Sex Marriage in New York
As I am sure you have all heard that New York has become the most recent state to allow same sex marriage (which was long overdue). There may be some “old” concerns for “new” couples hoping to take advantage of the new law. Issues of pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements need to be considered. There will also be issues involving divorces and estate planning which need to be considered. With all of the excitement that is surrounding the passing of this new same sex marriage bill, it may benefit those effected to take a step back and plan accordingly. Pre nuptial agreements are an excellent way to protect assets and clarify the intentions of both spouses ahead of time (before the marriage) so that there are no surprises later. Post nuptial agreements are a way for couples to draw a line and add stabilization to a wavering marriage. Either way, with all of the excitement over the new same sex marriage bill, there are sure to be some questions on the horizon. As always, if you have any questions about how to design a pre or post nuptial agreement to meet your specific needs, feel free to call the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 858-2620!
Keep in Touch