Same-sex divorce in Massachusetts

Some same-sex couples may find themselves in a situation in which they need to divorce one another. If you are in a same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and believe you may wish to divorce your spouse, you will have to consider several things.

Your divorce will deal with many of the same issues, such as property and asset division and child custody, that heterosexual divorces involve. There are some additional issues that same-sex divorces involve, however, that heterosexual divorces do not.

Since same-sex marriage is not yet federally recognized, you may face some tax implications and specific property and asset division issues. For example, if you are married to a federal employee, his or her pension may not be divisible. If you and your partner have a child, you may be able to obtain child custody or visitation rights with the child. This is possible even if you and the child are not directly related. There are certain alternatives that can be taken in order to protect your rights and your assets in a same-sex divorce.

Our Boston law firm helps same-sex couples deal with the financial and tax implications that differ in same-sex divorces from those of heterosexual divorces. You may benefit from gathering more information about the specific differences you may face in your divorce. In order to help same-sex couples who are considering divorce to better understand what the proceedings may entail and how they may be able to protect their property, assets and other rights, including child custody and support rights, we have put together a web page to provide pertinent information. You may benefit by visiting our same-sex divorce page.