Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to declare that same-sex couples have a fundamental right to marry. Marriage is more than just a declaration of love and commitment; it’s a legal status.
Generally speaking, marriage is desirable because it provides several unique rights, protections, and obligations at both the state and federal levels for both spouses, including tax and property ownership benefits.
While many states now recognize same-sex marriages, a civil union is also a legal status that provides many of the same protections that marriage offers to both same-sex and heterosexual couples. The main difference being that civil protections are only recognized on the state level.
Civil Unions can provide couples rights to various benefits such as health insurance, rights to make medical decisions for one another, inheritance rights, etc.
The process of dissolving a civil union generally follows the same steps as divorce for a married couple. While divorce is a process allowed to dissolve a civil union in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, various legal hurdles can sometimes arise when trying to dissolve a civil union. These can include residency requirements and change of residence.
To determine the best course of action for dissolving a civil union in Massachusetts, contact our office to review your options.
