In Wake of Marriage Equality Ruling, Estate Plans Deserve Attention

Article

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling finding that state laws that ban same-sex marriage are unconstitutional was the culmination of years of efforts by the gay rights movement to be given formal marriage status. And as with the Illinois legislature’s decision to recognize same-sex marriages, the court’s ruling was joyously received by the gay community, while recognizing that the entire American society does not yet fully accept same-sex marriages.

For years, gay couples have dealt with various challenges in estate planning resulting from not having their relationships receive legal marital status. The recent Supreme Court ruling serves as a reminder that gay couples may need to revisit their planning or at least recognize that the protections they sought now have a stronger basis in law.

Originally published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 8, 2015