Making It Legal

Ten states and the District of Columbia offer same-sex couples legal marriage or marriage-equivalent relationships, and four other states offer some level of rights. Nearly a quarter of the U.S. population now lives in a state with some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Authored by Frederick Hertz, a nationally recognized expert in same-sex relationship law, Making It Legal offers same-sex partners a comprehensive review of all of the issues that influence the decision to marry. It untangles the complexity of relationship law and outlines the newest legal options in every U.S. state, while providing practical guidance on how to make one of life's most important decisions. Questions all same-sex couples are likely to face when deciding whether to enter into a legal relationship are addressed, such as:

Numerous changes in same-sex relationship law have taken place across the country since the first edition was published; some states have added relationship recognition laws, while other states have passed laws stating that they will acknowledge same-sex marriages from other states, even if their states don't allow it. The 2nd edition contains fully updated laws for all states, includes a thoroughly revised 50-state relationship status chart, and discusses potential future changes in same-sex relationship law.