Guide to Same-Sex Marriage

Making it Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnership & Civil Unions

Product Description
The ultimate guide to the past, present, and future of same-sex relationship laws in the U.S. 

Same-sex relationships are treated differently under each state's laws, and nearly a quarter of the U.S. population lives in a state with some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples. More than 85,000 same-sex couples have entered a legal relationship since 1997. 

Making It Legal is the only book that offers a comprehensive review of all the issues that influence the decision to marry, breaks down the complex and ever-changing rules of same-sex relationship laws, and provides practical guidance on one of the most important decisions a couple can make. 

Following a brief history of the same-sex marriage movement and a survey of the current legal landscape, Making It Legal discusses the important factors involved in the personal decision to marry along with the issues that every married couple may face: 

• Is a pre-nup advisable and what does it involve? 

• How to evaluate the effect of taxes on shared lives 

• When is a will or trust needed • What are the special needs of couples with kids 

• When to turn to professionals for help during disagreements 

• Working with step-parents, past partners, and the blended family 

Nationally-recognized same-sex relationship law expert Attorney Frederick Hertz and Attorney Emily Doskow have written the ultimate guide to the ultimate decision -- whether to enter into a marriage or other legal relationship with your same-sex partner.

About the Author
Frederick Hertz is a practicing attorney-mediator and the author of Legal Affairs: Essential Advice for Same-Sex Couples (Owl Books) and co-author of Nolo's Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples and A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples. Emily Doskow is a practicing attorney specializing in family law, including adoption, parentage issues, domestic partnership formation and dissolution, and divorce. She is the author of Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce and the editor of many Nolo titles. Both live in the San Francisco Bay Area.