It’s important to closely examine what type of legal arrangement you entered into Prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the status of same-sex marriage in the United States was like a patchwork quilt. Some states allowed it, others did not, and a handful of states permitted something in-between, such as a domestic partnership or declaration of mutual commitment. As of 2015, however, same-sex marriage is recognized by all 50 states due to the Court’s ruling that the Fourteenth Amendment requires all states to recognize valid marriages performed in other states regardless of the gender of the parties. As a result, some same-sex couples have asked if they are required to obtain a divorce if they wish to end their marriage. The answer, explains North Carolina divorce lawyer Lori Vitale, is, “Yes, however, same-sex couples should first determine what type of legal union they have before filing for divorce. If you entered into some type of domestic … [Read more...]