Salinas Same-Sex Marriage Attorneys
California Same-Sex Marriage Laws
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision countless Americans
have been waiting a long time to finally hear: the legalization of same-sex
marriage nationwide. In the split 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that
the Constitution guaranteed the right of marriage to all Americans, sparking
celebrations in LGBT communities throughout the country.
The decision marks a distinct civil rights victory for our country and
affects same-sex couples even in states that have already legalized same-sex
marriage—California included.
Lavorato & Scott is ready to even further extend our family law services to same-sex couples
of our community who can finally enjoy the full legal benefits of marriage.
Our dedicated team of Salinas family lawyers can help these couples understand
these new, federal benefits and assess how they might influence an existing
or anticipated legal issue.
The trusted counsel you need is just a phone call away.
Contact us at Lavorato & Scott today.
What Are the Federal Benefits of Same-Sex Marriage?
California legalized same-sex marriage in 2013. That however, was a state
decision and did not give same-sex couples access to federal marriage
benefits that opposite-sex couples have long enjoyed. The latest Supreme
Court decision, however, does just that for already married same-sex couples.
New federal marriage benefits available to same-sex couples include:
- Social security benefits
- Federal employment benefits
- Military (or veteran) benefits
- Joint federal income tax filings
- Estate tax portability
While not every one of these benefits will apply to most couples, many
of them will and can significantly change the outlook of a divorce, prenuptial
agreement, or other family law matter involving finances. If you and your
partner, wife, or husband are facing a family law matter you believe needs
to be re-assessed due to the newly available federal marriage benefits,
then contact us at Lavorato & Scott. Our team has more than six decades
of collective legal experience and is ready to bring unparalleled advocacy
and insight to your case.
Start the process today. Contact us for a
free initial consultation now.