marriage
Does marriage make happiness? Not necessarily.
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he…
Read MoreAfter The Supreme Court Opinion, Do My Spouse And I Still Have To Do A Second-Parent Adoption?
Are you wondering whether a second parent adoption is still necessary after the Supreme Court’s recent opinion on same-sex marriage? In short, yes it is. While Obergefell was a giant stride for same-sex folks, it is important not to conflate marriage rights with parentage rights. The same parentage issues that used to be present for…
Read MoreThe Supreme Court On Same-Sex Marriage: The Practical Impact of Obergefell v. Hodges
Today, making way for same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court decided the landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges. The opinion gives same-sex couples the same rights as their different-sex counterparts. The issues as framed by Justice Kennedy (writing for the majority) were (1) whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to issue marriage licenses to two…
Read MoreWhat Do You Mean You Restructure Families? I Want A Divorce.
What does it mean to restructure your family in your Maryland divorce? There is so much negative talk around divorce and separation. We’re all guilty of it. But sometimes divorce is the only option to find your way to a better life and sometimes divorce is not your choice, but a reality you must accept.…
Read MoreAre Second-Parent Adoptions Still Important for Same-Sex Couples In Maryland?
In light of the ever-changing legal landscape for same-sex couples, are second-parent adoptions still important in Maryland? As of January 1, 2013, the right to marry has been extended to same-sex couples in Maryland. Pursuant to Maryland law, a child born or conceived during a marriage is presumed to be the legitimate child of both…
Read MoreSame-sex Marriage Licenses in Virginia are put on Hold after SCOTUS Issues Stay
What is the status of same-sex marriage licenses in Virginia? On August 20, 2014, the Supreme Court issued a stay on a ruling striking down Virginia’s ban on gay marriages by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. The 4th Circuit’s 2-1 decision would have paved the way for Virginia same-sex marriages to…
Read MoreMaryland Employees Who are Same-Sex Domestic Partners May Need To Marry To Continue Benefit Coverage
Do Maryland employees get coverage for same-sex benefits? The topography of same-sex marriage recognition and availability is constantly changing. Employees of the State of Maryland who receive or extend benefits to their domestic partners, may need to consider marriage in 2014 if they want to keep those benefits in place. The Benefits manual now provides,…
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