Gay marriage in washington state
Same-Sex Marriage vs Household Partnership Law in Washington State
Washington has both a Household Partnership law and legal same-sex marriages equality. These are not the matching thing, and particularly as it relates to same sex marriage, there are still special legal problems that may arise for equal sex spouses/couples that are not issues in traditional marriages.
Because same sex marriage is still not recognized at the national level, certain benefits, federal taxes, and recognition of parental status in states that undertake not recognize alike sex marriage can all pose legal issues for matching sex couples.
As the law continues to evolve some of these issues will be addressed. but because substantial rights can be affected based on the recognition (or not) of marital and parental status, caution is advised.
We can help you perceive and prevent potential problems with straightforward legal planning.
Contact Laurie Ummel or Geoff Gibbs today for a consultation.
Washington State Legislature Passes Historic Same-Sex Marriage Bill
February 8, 2012 12:00 am
Expected Signing by Governor Will Make Washington the Seventh State to Allow Same-Sex Couples to Marry
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OLYMPIA, Wash. – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Washington today hailed the channel by the Washington House of Representatives of a bill granting lesbian and gay couples in the state the freedom to wedding as a historic step towards fairness for families across the country.
“Washingtonians should be proud of their legislature and their governor for standing on the right side of history by securing fairness and dignity for all families,” said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Same-sex attracted Bisexual and Gender nonconforming Project. “When loving couples make the kind of pledge that is at the heart of marriage, it's not fair to bar them from the protections that only marriage can provide.”
The vote comes one day after a ruling by a federal appeals court that a California ballot initiative that excludes same-sex couples from marriages is unconstitutional. Currently, six states plus Washington, D.C. a
Same Sex Marriage in Washington State
Prior to December 6, 2012, estate planning for same sex partners was a tricky business. Without specific estate planning documents, the default results for married couples did not apply to similar sex partners. For example, a long term committed same sex partner would not inherit from their partner if the match were to die without a will. However, a married person would inherit automatically even if the marriage was only an hour long. That is because the law in Washington is that if a person dies without a will and the state recognizes that they are married, their spouse will inherit their community property and separate property interests. (Exceptions to intestate succession apply in the case of children from another spouse.)
On December 6, 2012, same sex marriages were legalized in Washington State. What does this signify for same sex couples?
Same sex couples who are legally married share all of the privileges of a traditional couple. This is true whether we are discussing married filing jointly tax returns or inheritances.
Does this indicate that same sex couples execute not need estate planning documents? Of course not!
But that is what you wou
A decade after 'I do,' we revisit WA's first legally wed gay couples
With the U.S. House and Senate voting to protect same-sex marriages, those involved in King County’s early celebrations recollect the historic moment.
When Ryan Hicks and Jeff Dorion headed to Seattle Municipality Hall to become one of the first Gay couples legally married in Washington in December 2012, they assumed it would be a quiet, bureaucratic affair. Instead, there were hundreds of boisterous supporters outside, wedding decorations inside and a flurry of local, national and international media coverage.
Ryan Hicks and Jeff Dorion pose for a photo in their home in Beacon Hill, Dec. 4, 2022. The couple was one of the first to be married, on Dec. 9, after same-sex marriage was legalized in Washington in 2012. (Genna Martin/Crosscut)
“We honestly thought we would performance up, get ushered into some judge’s chambers, and it would be very bare-bones, which we were perfectly fine with,” Dorion said, reflecting on the event 10 years later. “So many people were taking videos and photos of us – it was a complete shock. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was a happy surprise.”