Making it Legal: A Guide to Same-Sex Marriage, Domestic Partnership & Civil Unions,   ISBN:9781413309843

Customer Rating: 

This is a great book for same sex couples looking to try and gain some of rights that married couples receive. The one problem is that with the laws changing so quickly in different states, it's hard to be up to date with current laws. For instance, I live in Wisconsin, and the book did not have information on the domestic partner registry which went into effect in Aug 2009. I don't think it's the authors fault, but trying to keep up on 50 states different laws on a topic which there seems to be new legislation monthly is quite a daunting task.

The book does give you a great framework to follow, but if you are looking for state specific information, you would be better off researching through your local LGBT center, or your state government website directly. I've found both of them to be the best resource for current state laws regarding same-sex couples.

Customer Rating: 

While this book is a great resource for same-sex couples embarking on the legal aspects of commitment, it should be required reading for any and all joined in such bliss. NOLO has again created a great legal resource. This book does a good job of explaining what the legalities of union mean, what assets and liabilities are at stake, social and emotional ramifications, how to prepare for the future--both joyful events and less so, and the various localities that recognize same-sex union. Kudos, as well, for explaining the history of marriage and its inherent biases. The weakness of this text is that apart from cataloging such info in one binding and recent changes at state levels, there's not really any new information in it, and some of it will without doubt be short-lived as marital landscape changes. Examined as a thorough introduction, this text opens up great dialogue and sheds insight on what questions to ask, what points to consider, and where to go from there.

Customer Rating: 

Making It Legal is an indispensable resource for same-sex couples exploring the joys, pitfalls and ramifications of tying the knot in the eyes of the law.

Frederick Hertz is a veteran attorney whose knowledge and engaging writing style are a marriage made in heaven. Reading this book made me feel like I had spent time with a smart attorney who is on the cutting edge of same-sex marriage and a mensch who is a champion for civil rights. But most importantly, I felt like I had spent a few hours with a seasoned counselor-at-law whose common sense and familiarity with the complexities of relationships parallel his knowledge of the legal system. How refreshing!

Lastly, Making it Legal provides a thorough account of the history of the same-sex marriage movement including an analysis of the round-the-world situation. I highly recommend this book.

Customer Rating: 

I have been impressed by all of the NOLO guides I've read so far, and this one is no exception. While I am in a heterosexual partnership, as a counselor I will be making myself available to members of minority groups, to include the GLBT community. I wanted to read this to have some idea of options available to same-sex couples who wish to do as much as they can to make their commitment legal, even as individual states still argue over how far that should go.

The authors, both attorneys, have covered plenty of ground in this book. They explain the legal parameters of different arrangements--marriages, civil unions, and others. And they go into general advice on how to get ready for marriage--as well as avoid divorce to the best of your ability. Plus there's an entire, very useful chapter on estate planning. All of the material is easy for the layperson to understand, and well-organized as well.

While the book itself will become less relevant as more states legalize gay marriage (or so we should hope!), the publisher's website does include updates, so for the time being this should be an excellent resource.

Customer Rating: 

Although the NOLO MAKING IT LEGAL: A GUIDE TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS & CIVIL UNIONS book by attorneys Frederick Hertz and Emily Doskow was intended for same-sex couples who are planning on tying the knot or taking their relationships to the next level, I think it's a great resource guide for us who are still single in the LGBT community.

With all the discussions about same-sex marriage, domestic partnerships and civil unions there's a lot of confusing issues out there and this book helps to clarify many of them. For instance, did you know that a same-sex couple can get stuck in limbo if they decide to part ways if they live in a state that does not allow same-sex marriage, visit and marry in a state that does, and then go back and live in their home state? Because most states have residency requirements for filing a divorce, that couple wouldn't be able to file for divorce in the state they got married in, unless they moved there for the required amount of time. And since their home state does not recognize the marriage as valid, they can't file for a divorce there.

Anyway, I wasn't actually going to read it, just use it as a reference, but the book was written in such an interesting and concise way, that once I got started, I couldn't put it down. The book is chock full of information, including a small amount of back history on the gay rights movement. And it's all written in easy-to-understand language so you don't have to be running back and forth to a legal dictionary to figure out what the book is saying.

If you need updates or further info you can check out the publisher's website that also includes legal forms, and there's other websites listed to learn about same-sex marriage laws in your state.

Other interesting sections in MAKING IT LEGAL...

***Explains the differences between civil unions, domestic partnerships and same-sex marriages.

***List of states that allow same-sex marriage, which do not, and which will recognize marriages carried out in other states.

***Discusses what actually happens when two people become married i.e. the rights and responsibilities that come along with saying "I Do."

***Explains what states are community, marital, and equitable property states and what each means.

***Talks about the federal and state laws concerning same-sex marriages (basically federal law does NOT consider two people of the same gender as a married couple, so NO federal benefits can be had) and how issues like adoption, taxes and other legal issues that occur as states decide the marriage issue for itself.

***Includes information on children, either adopted or natural, and same-sex couples who plan on marrying and raising a kid(s).

***Talks about what happens in heterosexual marriages as far as the law is considered (particularly when it comes to divorce, custody rights, and spousal support) so readers have an understanding of what is involved in these cases and how courts might carry out legal proceedings in same-sex marriages.

***Section on Pre-nuptial agreements, what they are and what can and cannot go into them, and the steps in creating one.

***Talks about making the right decision and if marriage is right for you. There's tips about when marriage isn't a good idea and items to consider before making the leap from just a couple to lawfully wedded.

Although the authors do seem to spend more than a few sections on divorce, even by their own admission, it is only when the topic of divorce comes up is when all of the legal issues of a "marriage" come up and so it must be addressed.

There's a lot to consider before saying "I do," and this book outlines many of those issues. I'm all for same-sex marriages, but it must be decided on an individual level...between two people. It's a shame that many of us have jumped up and married someone just because we had the option (at least in California before it was taken away). Having this book prepares you for what is to be expected both in regards to the law and personally, so that you can make the right decision for you and your significant other.