June 26th, 2015 will go down as a landmark day in American history, as this was the day that the United States Supreme Court ruled to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states. The ruling did not come easily, however, as it only narrowly passed with five votes against four.
The split decision is actually quite representative of the American populace, as many recent polls and surveys indicate that roughly 60% of all people are in favor of same-sex marriage legalization. Those who supported the decision took to the street with flags of rainbow designs while their
opposition shook their heads. Some politicians and lawmakers who oppose the decision have already sworn to do all they can to have the ruling
repealed, claiming that it represents either an affront to states’ rights or the religious freedoms of conservative churchgoers.
The Ruling Affects More than Just Marriage Rights
The driving factor behind the Supreme Court’s ruling was to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples and provide them with the opportunity
to pursue happiness as heterosexual couples can. More than just marriage will be altered, though, as the new distribution of rights also impacts
other areas of family law.
Most notably, married same-sex couples will also be able to file for divorce in any state. Prior to the ruling, if a state did not recognize their
legal union, it would also not provide them with the ability to divorce. This resulted in many same-sex spouses feeling trapped in a marriage that
was not working. Additionally, several legal documents will be affected by the decision, such as birth and death certificates. In turn, these
alterations may change areas of litigation from adoption law to personal injury claims.
If you and your same-sex spouse live in Georgia and need help with a legal matter pertaining to your newfound rights – or if you want to file for divorce – you can turn to Fox Firm, P.C. Our lead attorney, Mr. Fox, has an “Excellent” Avvo Rating and
20 years of legal practice under his belt.
Contact us today.