Over the years, same-sex partners have encountered many struggles no matter what state they lived in. From marriage and divorce to child custody and adopting a child, there were a number of things that same-sex partners had to face and had no way of knowing how everything would play out. Even though much of the struggle is over and same-sex relationships have recently become more acceptable by the legal system, couples are still opting to register as domestic partners, rather than marry one another.
The following are some of the benefits of couples recognized as domestic partners:
- Ability to receive family medical leave.
- Ability to be covered under health insurance.
- Ability to receive bereavement leave.
When your relationship is legally recognized by the state, whether it be by marriage, civil union or domestic partnership, it is beneficial to you and your partner. Since there are a number of things that can happen unexpectedly, such as sickness or death, couples will want to be sure both partners have a say in the decisions that will be made should something tragic happen to their partner. Even though domestic partners don’t have all of the rights that married couple do, the rights that domestic partners do have could mean a lot when they have to exercise them.
Whether a couple is married or unmarried, they may still face a number of legal issues during or after the relationship. For same-sex couples, some of these issues may include adoption, marriage, divorce and more. Should anyone be having difficulty with any legal matter, they should not hesitate to seek assistance from an attorney, as they are knowledgeable of many issues regarding same-sex partners and may be able to guide you in the right direction.