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Maryland’s top court hears same-sex divorce case 

By: Steve Lash
Published: April 9, 2012

Tags: divorce, gay marriage, Maryland, same-sex divorce

Maryland’s highest court appears poised to require the state to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other jurisdictions, if only to allow the lawfully wedded couples to divorce in Maryland.

High-profile 1st Circuit DOMA challenge packs courtroom 

By: Dan McDonald
Published: April 9, 2012

Tags: Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, gay marriage, same-sex marriage

The 1st Circuit heard arguments last week in the legal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that bars same-sex married couples from marital protections.

The plaintiffs in Gill v. Office of Personnel Management are state residents represented by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders. The plaintiffs allege they have been harmed by the federal government, which, under DOMA, has refused to recognize their marriages, meaning that they do not have access to Social Security protections, family health insurance policies or joint income tax filings.

Utah extends waiting period for divorce 

Published: March 29, 2012

Tags: divorce

Couples seeking a divorce in the state of Utah must now wait 90 days before they can end their marriage, pursuant to a new law.

Estate can sue ex-wife to recover ERISA funds 

Published: March 22, 2012

Tags: divorce, ERISA

The estate of a divorced man could sue his ex-wife to enforce her waiver of rights to the proceeds of his ERISA retirement plan, the 3rd Circuit has ruled in reversing judgment.

Do posthumously conceived twins have benefit rights? 

By: Kimberly Atkins
Published: March 19, 2012

Tags: in vitro fertilization, intestacy, Social Security benefits, state law, Supreme Courts

WASHINGTON – At oral arguments Monday, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court seemed disinclined to grant Social Security survivor benefits to twin babies born via artificial insemination more than a year after their father died.

Husband must pay for twins from in vitro fertilization 

Published: March 19, 2012

Tags: child support, in vitro fertilization

A husband who consented to the artificial insemination of his wife using donor sperm and eggs cannot avoid paying child support for twins born as a result of the procedure, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals has ruled in affirming judgment.

Ex-wife can claim federal employee’s life insurance 

Published: March 19, 2012

Tags: divorce, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act, life insurance

An ex-wife’s equitable claim to a federal employee’s life insurance benefits is not preempted by federal law, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled.

Medicare set-aside account divisible in divorce 

Published: March 16, 2012

Tags: divorce, Medicare, workers' compensation

A wife in a divorce was entitled to a percentage of the husband’s workers’ compensation settlement that was placed in a Medicare set-aside account, the Illinois Appellate Court has ruled in affirming a $12,250 award.

Divorced father can be ordered to pay for college 

Published: March 12, 2012

Tags: child support, divorce

A divorced father could be ordered to pay his adult child’s college expenses, the South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.

Aunt not entitled to visitation 

Published: March 6, 2012

Tags: visitation

State law authorizing grandparent visitation could not be extended to an aunt who wanted to see the daughter of her deceased twin, the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.