Art by Barbara Hendrickson, an artist and real_estate agent at Red Oak Realty in Berkeley, California.


Frederick Hertz is the author of Making It Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnerships & Civil Unions, published by Nolo Press. Click here to learn more about this important new book and to read Fred's most recent blogpost!


The historic ban on same-sex marriage forced many couples to devise their own relationship arrangements. Now, with marriage available in every state in the United States and in most other countries, and marriage-equivalent registrations available in most states, same-sex couples have a wide variety of legal options to choose from.
 
As of June 2013, married couples have been able to benefit from the protections of federal recognition. While there is now marriage equality and access to legal adoption of your children in every state, there are still significant problems as a result of the historic complexities and the lack of interstate and federal recognition of marriage-equivalent registrations.  These new realities mandate an even greater degree of education on how the legal rules can affect your relationship, your assets, and your children.
 
I urge you to think carefully during the happy times about what is best for you and your partner, so you can avoid uncertainty and conflicts in the event you face hard times in the future.

—Frederick Hertz

 
 
 
 
 
       

Legal Disclaimer

General information provided at this site should not be treated as legal advice applicable in your particular situation. Every situation presents its own facts and circumstances, and the law may be very different depending upon where you live. By accessing this site, you are acknowledging that Frederick Hertz is not agreeing to act for you in any capacity nor providing you with any legal advice, and that you are not a client of Frederick Hertz. If you reside in California and wish to retain the services of Frederick Hertz, you may contact him at fred@samesexlaw.com and make an appointment to meet with him.