The Dignity of Gay marriages was part of SCOTUS decision: Will that bring about "dignity codes" which are against the First Amendment?

A George Washington University professor says "perhaps."

Article here (via aba journal).

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley says the opinion recognizing the dignity of gay marriage could pave the way for dignity codes that trump free-speech rights.
Turley says “the most direct way” the majority could have upheld a right to gay marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges would be to find that sexual orientation is a protected class under the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. That would have made a refusal to issue gay-marriage licenses illegal discrimination, and would have clarified the standard in areas such as employment discrimination and refusal of public accommodations, Turley says.

Same gender couples: Who gets your stuff? (an estate planning Q & A Primer)

The issue: Michigan law currently does not recognize same gender couples. This is true regardless of how the relationship was formed, or whether the relationship was formed in Michigan or another state.

This means that decisions about to whom property should pass, or the person who can make health care decisions will become the "default" person under Michigan law. In other words, instead of letting a partner in a same gender couple make decisions, that power will then fall to next of kin.

  I am in a long-term same-sex relationship, what will happen to my property or assets when I die?
A: That depends. If you have a validly executed will, you can name the person to whom property will pass, otherwise, Michigan law appoints how it will pass through its laws of intestacy. This will be your blood relations, and will ignore any same-gender relationship, regardless of the length of the relationship, any verbally stated intentions, or whether that relationship is legally recognized in another state.

Q: My parents have always had a hard time recognizing that I have decided to live this way. What should I do to show that I want my partner to inherit I am gone?

A: You should get your intentions written into a estate planning documents (a will, trust, or other document). At a bare minimum, a will needs to appoint an executor (also known as personal representative), and determine to whom property will pass at your death. A will can also make it so that other people in your family won't inherit property, if that is what you choose.

Q: I think it would be better if my personal matters remain private. Is there a way I can achieve this?

A: Yes. You can create a trust.  A trust can operate to distribute your property while you are alive, or after you die. The advantage of a trust (over a will) is that it will not be part of public record -- wills are "probated" which will then become public record. Trusts are not.

Q: I am concerned about whether my partner will be listened to if I am hospitalized. Can my family - who have never been comfortable with our relationship - exclude him from seeing me?
A: The family will have to recognize your wishes if you write them into a health care power of attorney (also called Patient Advocate designation). This document will outline how you wish to have your body treated, who can make that decision for you if you become incompetent, and any other health care decisions. Without this document, that duty will fall to immediate family members.

Q: Can my partner make financial decisions if I become incapacitated?
A: Yes, but only if a financial power of attorney (POA) is executed. You can write a POA to either become valid when you become incapacitated (also called "Springing") or for it to become effective on executiion (called "immediate.") Without a financial POA, again, Michigan will allow blood relations to make those decisions instead, in spite of any perviously stated intentions.

Q: What is your recommendation?
I think it's essential for same-gender couples to talk with an estate planning attorney to determine what documents are needed. At a minimum, a will, financial POA, and health care POA should be written to show what each person had planned.

 

Civil rights and same-gender marriages, will Michigan allow this? Trial starts today.

Michigan’s highly anticipated gay marriage trial gets underway today in Detroit, where a federal judge will hear the pros and cons of children being raised in same-sex families and ultimately decide what the definition of marriage should be and will be in this state.

Michigan has a voter-approved ban on same-gender marriages, that essentially defines marriage in Michigan as between one man and one woman. This was about 10 years ago. 

Article here.  

Michigan’s case involves two Hazel Park nurses who are challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption, arguing the bans unlawfully violate their right to get married and adopt each other's children. The plaintiffs, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, filed their suit in January 2012, initially raising only the adoption issue, but then challenging the gay marriage prohibition as well.

My personal take on this: I wrote an article (unpublished, email me for a copy) about equal protection for persons with disabilities. Even if the federal Court in today's trial decides to drop the voter-approved ban on same-gender marriages (which the Supreme Court views in the same category as persons with disabilities), what will happen at the next level? The Supremes have been on this issue for a bit in other cases, but haven't changed the level of constitutional scrutiny for this group.

Does allowing a name-change on a driver's license amount to "recognition" of same-gender marriage?

From the Detroit News: 

A provision of the Michigan Constitution that voters approved in 2004 bans same-sex marriages, so Jesse Sherman and Derek Melot went to New York to get married in October.

But later, when Jesse Melot went to two Michigan Secretary of State offices with his marriage certificate, seeking to have his new name put on his driver’s license, clerks in both offices declined to do so.

Although he could spend money to have his name changed legally, married people normally can do that just by showing a marriage certificate.

Article here.

No custody rights, says Michigan Court of Appeals to parent in same-gender couple

article here.  

The Michigan Court of Appeals has agreed with a Dickinson County judge who dismissed a lawsuit by Jennifer Stankevich who was seeking custody and other rights from her former partner, Leanne Milliron.
Stankevich and Milliron had entered into a same-sex marriage in Canada in 2007 but separated two years later.

While Stankevich apparently had a role in the child’s early life, the court ruled Milliron is the biological mother, and since Michigan doesn’t recognize same-sex marriage, she thereby has the upper hand in any legal action.

Side Note: I think that this may be an inequitable result, but probably will be upheld if it goes to a higher court. If there's a heterosexual couple, where children are residing with a biological parent, and one person is not the biological parent, and doesn't make an effort to adopt children who he/she is parenting, then they have no standing for custody when the adult relationship ends. This is similar to how the court here viewed the standing of the non-biological mom in this same-gender couple.