Divorce and Gay Marriage

Very few states recognize gay marriage, so when a gay couple wishes to get married, they need to travel to a state that recognizes their unions in order to join together "legally". They then return to their home states in order to live their lives. What happens when those parties want to dissolve their union when the state in which they live in doesn't recognize their marriage? In Rhode Island, it was determined that a couple could not be granted a divorce, because their state did not recognize their marriage. This creates an interesting and complex problem for gay couples who want to have their property and debts distributed and who may want to seek alimony or child support. Until all states recognize gay marriage, this issue will continue to show up in courts and newspapers.

To read the article upon which this blog is based, see: http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2007/12/08/ri_court_wont_let_gay_couple_divorce/