How Will DOMA Affect Individuals In Other States?
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the federal 17-year-old DOMA act (Defense of Marriage Act), leaving many people wondering the effects this ruling will have on same-sex couples in their state. Hopefully the following information might be helpful when trying to understand this major decision in the United States v. Windsor case. In order to dispel a misconception, it should be noted that this decision does not require states to recognize same-sex marriages.
The primary point to take away from this ruling is that it will ONLY affect individuals residing in the 13 states* and the District of Columbia that have legalized gay marriage. So, in Ohio, the DOMA ruling will not have any real present substantive affect. But it may end up becoming a step forward in legalizing gay marriage.
Now that DOMA has been overturned, legally married same-sex couples in those specific states will be granted the same federal benefits to which heterosexual married couples have been entitled. These benefits include social security, estate tax, joint tax-returns, military benefits, health coverage, and child custody rights. In total, this ruling will affect over 1,000 federal benefits afforded to … Read More... “DOMA Ruling: The Impact of this Historic Supreme Court Decision”