As same-sex couples are beginning to be afforded the right to marry in states across the country, the flipside is the necessity for same-sex divorce. States, like Massachusetts, that have legalized same-sex marriage must now also offer same-sex divorce. Because even when marriages begin with the best of intentions, not all work out.
That was the way things happened for one couple. The two had already planned to wed in Boston, Massachusetts, over Memorial Weekend in 2012, but when their own state passed a same-sex marriage act, the two women decided to get married there instead. Unfortunately, between the time they wed in July and the following January, their relationship had become rocky.
One of the two women said that she felt lonely. She thought it was great to be part of history as far as being among the first same-sex couples to get married in New York. What wasn't so great, she said, was having her marriage also become one of the first -- if not the first -- same-sex marriages to end in divorce.
As many Massachusetts residents can attest to, this woman is not alone in her situation. The truth is that not every marriage works out. And whether for same-sex or opposite-sex couples, ending a marriage is often preferable to continuing an unhappy one.
It is important for those going though same-sex divorce to know, that because it is relatively new to the legal system, it can become very complicated. Especially if you have children, it may be helpful to seek advice from a legal professional experienced in same-sex divorce. Child custody and support laws are not as well-defined as they are for opposite-sex couples. Understanding your rights and options can make the divorce process much more manageable.
Source: The Atlantic Wire, "After Gay Marriage Comes Gay Divorce," Jen Doll, June 25, 2012
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