Family Law, Civil Rights

Minnesota Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

by Beth P. Zoller | XpertHR - Partnered with LexisNexis on 5/23/2013

On May 14, 2013 Minnesota became the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage. +2013 Bill Text MN H.B. 1054....more

Estate Planning Alert: New Civil Marriage Law Could Increase Income Tax Costs, May Offer Estate Tax Benefits

by Michelle Rehbein, Shane Swanson | Leonard, Street and Deinard on 5/22/2013

On May 14, 2013, Governor Dayton signed a bill modifying Minnesota Statutes Sections 517 and 518. The bill enacts changes in Minnesota's marriage law, effective August 1, 2013....more

Employment And Labor Law Alert: Minnesota's Same-Sex Marriage Law: Effects On Employers

by Angela Bohmann, Jewelie Grape, Christina Sans | Leonard, Street and Deinard on 5/20/2013

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Governor Dayton signed into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota (H.F. 1054 and S.F. 925), effective August 1, 2013....more

Delaware Is Next State To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

by Beth P. Zoller | XpertHR - Partnered with LexisNexis on 5/16/2013

Delaware is now the 11th state to permit same-sex marriage under a new law that will go into effect on July 1, 2013. This follows Rhode Island's passage of a similar law last week. +2013 Bill Text DE H.B. 75....more

What Gay Couples Can Expect If DOMA Falls

by Ronald Shapiro on 5/15/2013

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) before its summer recess, and legal experts are already in disarray over what the ruling could mean for same-sex...more

DOMA Project Explains Green Card “Basics” for Same-Sex Couples

by Ronald Shapiro on 5/15/2013

The DOMA Project, a non-profit group fighting to stop deportations and separations of same-sex bi-national couples who are immigration casualties of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), has created a video about “green card...more

Minnesota Gov. Signs Marriage Equality into Law

by Aaron Kase | Lawyers.com on 5/15/2013

Months after Minnesota voters declined to enshrine a ban on gay marriage in the state constitution, Gov. Mark Dayton today signed a bill that permits gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot....more

Proskauer’s DOMA Task Force

by Roberta Chevlowe | Proskauer - ERISA Practice Center on 5/14/2013

Proskauer’s Employee Benefits Practice Center’s DOMA Task Force, which is comprised of lawyers from our offices nationwide, regularly advises employers and other plan sponsors on the myriad benefits issues that arise in the...more

Gay Moms Get True Marriage Equality in Iowa

by Michele Bowman | Lawyers.com on 5/10/2013

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on May 3 that the state must recognize children born to lesbian couples as having two parents on their birth certificate, ensuring full parental rights for both parents and equal treatment for gay...more

Supreme Court Oral Arguments on DOMA, Proposition 8: Potential Employee Benefit Plan Implications

by Joseph S. Adams, Todd Solomon, Brian Tiemann | McDermott Will & Emery on 5/7/2013

On March 26 and 27, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in cases challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8. A Supreme Court...more

While Hamstrung By DOMA, Federal Election Commission Still Opens Door To Joint Political Contributions From Same-Sex Couples

by Tyler Hagenbuch | Perkins Coie on 5/1/2013

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) this week became the latest government agency to grapple with the impact of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on the federal rights of legally married same-sex couples. At issue was...more

Employers Should Review How Plan Documents Define Spouse in Light of Recent Benefits Litigation

by Lisa Loesel, Jacob Mattinson, Todd Solomon, Brian Tiemann | McDermott Will & Emery on 4/30/2013

Two recent cases challenging benefit eligibility for same-sex spouses highlight the need for employer-sponsored retirement and welfare plans to clearly define "spouse" for eligibility purposes. Employers may want to review...more

Senator Murphy: Prospects “Not Too Good” for Federal Bill Prohibiting Sexual Orientation Discrimination (ENDA)

by Daniel A. Schwartz | Pullman & Comley, LLC on 4/26/2013

As many wait for the Supreme Court’s decision later this term on same-sex marriages, one issue that seems to get lost in the shuffle is the fact that there is still no federal law prohibiting discrimination in employment on...more

Judge Rules for Same-Sex Marriage Partner Who Was Denied Immigration Benefits

by Ronald Shapiro on 4/23/2013

On Friday, April 19, 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall in Los Angeles, CA, ruled that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (the “USCIS”) denied Jane Deleon equal protection of the law when it refused...more

Married Same-Sex Couples Should File Protective Claims For Tax Refunds Now

by William Rohrer | Carlton Fields on 4/10/2013

When the Supreme Court ultimately decides United States v. Windsor, it could strike down the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that prohibits married same-sex couples from receiving the federal benefits provided...more

Illinois Inches Closer to Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

by Michele Bowman | Lawyers.com on 4/5/2013

While a bill legalizing gay marriage awaits enough support in the Illinois House of Representatives, the Cook County clerk is not defending against a lawsuit brought against the county by gay couples who say its refusal to...more

VAWA Now Covers LBGTs and Native Americans

by Janet Raasch | Lawyers.com on 4/4/2013

Since passage of the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994, reported incidents of violence against women in the United States have decreased by an impressive two-thirds. Still, violence against women remains a...more

U.S. Supreme Court Hears DOMA Case—Now What?

by Jason A. Rothman | Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on 4/4/2013

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in United States v. Windsor, 12-307, a case that raises the question of whether the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is constitutional. Among the various groups that are...more

Was this week the beginning of the end for DOMA?

by Nancy Van Tine | Burns & Levinson LLP on 4/1/2013

Hi there, This week had two days of arguments on gay marriage at the Supreme Court. The first case dealt with a challenge to the California law known as Prop. 8, which overturned the California Supreme Court’s...more

Same-Sex Marriage Cases: Are Your Benefit Plans Prepared?

by Christine Hawkins, Dipa N. Sudra | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 3/29/2013

News articles, social media, protests, and lunchroom conversation were all dedicated to the two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. Hollingsworth v. Perry and Windsor v. United States could potentially transform...more

Supreme Court Hears Arguments in DOMA Challenge

by Joseph Russell, Jr. | Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A. on 3/28/2013

The Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”) is agay marriage federal law which bars interstate recognition of marriage between same sex couples. This means that while a marriage between members of the same sex in one state may be...more

Supreme Court Could Strike Down Defense of Marriage Act

by Aaron Kase | Lawyers.com on 3/28/2013

The U.S. Supreme Court heard two hours of arguments today over the Defense of Marriage Act, which bans federal recognition of same-sex marriage....more

Will Supreme Court Punt on Gay Marriage Case?

by Aaron Kase | Lawyers.com on 3/27/2013

The U.S. Supreme Court today heard arguments in a case that could potentially grant marriage rights to gay couples in all 50 states, but the justices indicated that they would punt the issue instead....more

Why the Supreme Court Will Rule in Favor of Gay Marriage

by Lawyers.com on 3/27/2013

Originally published in The Huffington Post on March 25, 2013. We are on the threshold of a historic decision on individual rights by the Supreme Court of the United States as it considers two cases involving same-sex...more

Historic Gay Marriage Cases Before Supreme Court Next Week

by Aaron Kase | Lawyers.com on 3/22/2013

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next week in two cases that have the potential to change the face of LGBT rights and bring marriage equality to all Americans....more

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Family Law › Civil Rights