Since marriage between same-sex couples became legal, same-sex divorces became an inevitability. Many people believe that the Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage leveled the playing field for gay couples. However, that is not always the case.
On the surface, a divorce between a same-sex couple and a divorce between a heterosexual couple appear to be equivalent. But, gay marriages have only been unilaterally legal since the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court became the law of the land on June 26, 2015.
So, while if you were part of a couple for many years prior to the ruling, your divorce may include issues that were germane to you both long before you could legally marry. For instance, you may have had or adopted children together, bought homes and other real estate properties, shared businesses and made large-scale purchases with commingled funds long before you were ever legally wed.
In short, any divorce now will have to take into account all of those factors. That can make your divorce a bit more complex and nuanced than those of your heterosexual friends who face similar circumstances.
That’s why it is a good idea to retain a Michigan family law attorney with a good grasp of the issues that same-sex couples face when they decide to divorce.
We at Jackman and Kasody understand these sorts of cases very well and will work hard to ensure that our same-sex marriage clients are well-represented throughout all aspects of their divorces. We will seek a settlement that leaves you well-poised to move on financially once your marriage is ended.