If you’ve been on Facebook, you’ve probably seen a cascade of rainbow-colored profile pictures celebrating the Supreme Court ruling on the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that overturned same-sex marriage bans in four states and effectively legalized marriage for same-sex couples across the United States. Colorado has already had same-sex marriage on the law books for some time, but some couples have chosen to forego marriage in favor of domestic partnerships. Domestic partnerships are similar to marriage and many employers already extend benefits such as health insurance to couples in domestic partnerships.
Because Obergefell’s ruling does not mention domestic partnerships, you might be wondering how yours will be affected by the outcome on the case.
How the Supreme Court Ruling Affects Domestic Partnerships
Employer-provided benefits may change as a result of the ruling. Some employers may discontinue same-sex domestic partner benefits. You should speak with your employer about possible benefit changes and whether you need to take steps to ensure that your partner is covered. This has happened in the past with employers like Verizon and IBM, where domestic partner benefits were rescinded and employees were given a grace period to get married. Your taxes may also be affected by the change.
Our family law attorneys will be keeping an eye on the effects of the Obergefell ruling and will keep this blog updated as more news comes out that may affect your family.
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