The Boston divorce attorneys at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP support and offer legal assistance to gay and same-sex partners with domestic partnerships in Boston as well as same sex marriages for the entire LGBTQ community. They are happy to support equal rights for everyone. With offices in Boston, Needham, New Bedford and Hingham, MA, they assist clients from all over Massachusetts.
Same Sex Marriage in Massachusetts Legal Since 2004
Gay marriage was made legal in the state of Massachusetts on May 17, 2004. They were the first state in the United States to legally issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
Not only were they the first in the U.S., but they were also the sixth jurisdiction in the world to legalize same sex marriage. The other ones were The Netherlands, Belgium, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
Since the legalization, in Massachusetts between 2005 and 2013 there have been an average of 2,200 gay marriages each year.
Based on the average of 35,000 opposite-sex weddings in Massachusetts, we have concluded that approximately 6% of the marriages in Massachusetts each year are from gay and same-sex couples.
What is a Domestic Partnership in Massachusetts?
A domestic partnership is an alternative to marriage for same-sex couples and opposite-sex partners alike. With a Domestic Partnership, you are allowed to define your relationship status, and are also entitled to many of the same benefits that a married couple enjoys. Persons wishing to dissolve a Domestic Partnership in Massachusetts may do so, even if their partnership was established or registered in another state.
How do I file a Domestic Partnership in Boston?
In the city of Boston, if you would like to file for a Domestic partnership, you can sign and submit the following forms to the City Clerk:
- Statement of Domestic Partnership
- Statement of Additional Dependents
- Termination of a Statement of Domestic Partnership
The Boston Domestic Partnership Attorneys at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP are happy to assist with the filing and submission of these forms on your behalf, and can walk you through the entire process.
What are the Benefits of a Domestic Partnership?
As discussed on the divorce lawyer site of our partner firm in Temecula, CA, here are some Benefits of a Domestic Partnership:
- Accident and life Insurance
- Death Benefits
- Health insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance
- Sick and bereavement leave from work
- Parental leave for a co-parented child
- Housing rights and tuition reductions at accredited universities and colleges
What are the differences between a Domestic Partnership and a Marriage?
- Marriages are recognized in all 50 states in the U.S. and Domestic Partnerships won’t be honored in several states.
- Some workplaces and companies will qualify Domestic Partners for the same rights as a “family” member, but they are not considered family, per law.
- With a Domestic Partnership, you can’t petition for a non-citizen partner. With Marriage, a couple can do this.
- Upon death, Married Couples automatically inherit each other’s assets without any taxes incurred. For Domestic Partnerships, you can inherit your partner’s assets via a Will, but you will be subjected to taxes.
Same Sex Divorce, Domestic Partnership Termination & Dissolution
Even though gay marriage has been legalized, people are still opting, or remaining with just a domestic partnership. One of the foreseen benefits of this would be to avoid the federal income tax penalty on marriage. We are finding that opposite-sex couples are taking advantage of this loophole as well. As a result of this, combined with the people that previously received a Domestic Partnership in another state before they moved to the state, Boston and the entire state of Massachusetts is still seeing a good number of domestic partnerships.
Boston Gay Marriage Divorce and Domestic Partnership Termination
Massachusetts has maintained one of the lowest overall divorce rates of any state — both before and after gay marriage was legalized in 2004. Currently, about 1% of married same-sex partners get divorced each year.
As with traditional heterosexual couples, some parties unfortunately decide to terminate their gay marriage or domestic partnership. The attorneys at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP offer legal assistance for Domestic Partnership termination in Boston, as well as Divorce in Boston, New Bedford, Hingham, MA, and any other area in the state of Massachusetts.
We can help with your Domestic Partnership Termination or Same Sex Divorce case in Boston.
Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP can help with any the following issues:
- Domestic Partnership Termination
- Property division
- Spousal Support
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Asset Divisions
- Guardianship Issues
- Health Care Situations
- Immigration Issues
At Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP our Boston domestic partnership attorneys support equal rights for everyone – regardless of sex, gender, nationality, or sexual orientation. Contact our experienced team today to handle your same sex divorce or domestic partnership case.
Call us in Boston (617) 795-3611 or in New Bedford (508) 316-9720 or Hingham (781) 908-0551 today for a free consultation! We also serve all courts in, Norfolk County, Suffolk County, Middlesex County, Essex County, and Plymouth County including the Family and Probate Courthouses in Plymouth and Brockton.