June 26th, 2015 will be a day not forgotten by historians. In a 5-4 ruling, the United States Supreme Court granted marriage rights to same-sex couples across the nation, including those in the states that previously banned it. After the controversial ruling, the U.S. has become the 21st country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.
The ruling was seen as the biggest victory for gay rights advocates to date. Married same-sex couples will now have the same legal rights and benefits as all other married couples in the country. Additionally, their union will be recognized on official government documents, including birth certifications and death certificates.
As people either rejoice or regret the decision, not many are considering the legal ramifications it might have on family law. In particular, it should be noted that same-sex married couples are also now eligible to file for divorce, and possibly legal separation, nationwide.
It is assumed that the states that previously did not allow same-sex marriage will adopt traditional divorce laws and regulations in terms of same-sex divorce. However, it might be possible for states to draft their own specific laws in the future.
Matters that same-sex divorce laws will have to address include:
- Alimony
- Child custody
- Child support
- Guardianship
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Property division
- Visitation rights
We Can Help You Figure Out Your Rights
In the coming days, we will see if there are any dramatic changes to family law in regards to same-sex marriages. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about family law or divorce, you can contact a Jacksonville divorce attorney from the Law Offices of Jason K.S. Porter, P.A. today for professional legal guidance. We have 90+ years of combined legal experience that we can put to work to help uphold your rights during your divorce, same-sex or otherwise.