I'm looking for information on making my relationship with someone of the same-sex as close to legal as possible. I want to know how much I can do financially with my partner as well as where to begin putting our finances together. Leases, car ownership, jointly owned possessions, living will, etc... all of these issues. Any help would be great.
211640
You have many options to combine finances.  Of all of these I would advise you to each start a separate trust with all of your worldly assets.  You can name your partner as the benefactor or the trust and vice versa.  I would not advise putting multiple names on loans, leases or credit cards.  If for some reason these things go sour the liability would be greater.  I would advise anyone (married or not) to keep credit cards with only one name.  This debit is forgiven with a death certificate in most states.  By creating a trust account (and making 1 person sole benefactor) you are showing that you are committed to your partner and that you're pennywise!
416292
Having recently had a Civil Ceremony (U.K.) with my partner in a registry office, followed by a blessing in a non denominational church we can categorically state that we had no wish for any Church, organization or any person to be forced to accommodate our wishes. All my partner and I wanted was to be given the opportunity to have the same legal standing and to celebrate our life past and present, as enjoyed by heterosexuals. \nI, we have never expected any one or any orginasation to accomodate our orientation, let alone the church or their congregations. Do you honestly believe that politicians can enforce their will on the Church. Can you see gay couples lining up to be married in a place, by a person who has been forced to do so, I think not.\nTrying to force your will on anybody eventually fails, look to the history books.
382839
Marriage and divorce solely for the sake of money is wrong.  But divorce can sometimes be a good thing.  What about people in abusive relationships?  Or what if a person's spouse cheats on them?  If money is all you're worried about, then, as stated already, get a pre-nup.  Actually, I think pre-nups are great tools, not just to make sure that if you are divorced your finances are protected, but also to ensure ahead of time what the conditions would have to be for your ex-spouse to be allowed to sue you (like, if you cheated on her, then she would be entitled to part of your fortune as a settlement).  That kind of thing.  Anyway, the reason finances become such a big issue during divorce is that a couple's assets are considered "community" property- in other words, they legally share everything unless specifically stated otherwise in an agreement before-hand.  The laws vary from state to state on this.  This dates from a time when women were completely dependent on their husbands for money, and might even have been considered chattle.  So it's a bit old-fashioned.  But part of the main idea of marriage is giving all of yourself and sharing completely with your spouse, so it is still considered a very valid practice.  Anyway....
196708
I just recently got married myself, and I don't think it is anything you can plan out. Just remember to keep each other happy. There is a ggod book I just finished, its called Power of a Praying Wife, it has helped me out a lot.
445524
Your husband and yourself should be sitting down with a piece of paper and listing all the income and expenses. You should know what is in the bank accounts and what is going out. Marriage is also a financial contract and every woman should know how the money works. Do not pay extra on the rent - there is no need your husband and yourself pay 2/3 of the rent and flatemate the other 1/3. Flatmate is liable for 1/3 of all expenses.When the both have you have gone through all the expenses and worked out what you both earn...then you work out a fair way for both to pay the expenses. You both should also have seperate spending accounts with a little from each pay for your own to spend or save as you like.
640502
There are legal aid society's that can help you with this.  Look up the info on Google.  \n\nGood luck working this out.\n\nSorry people feel that they must interject there own feelings on your situation.  I didn't see any help in there responses.
492869
Actually I Knew a couple personally who divorced and had a little boy. After I think it was 1 year or a bit more the man moved back. For whatever reason they lived together (but they didn't remarry) They were quite content as things were. He was still paying his child support and had no problems with that. Nor did she. Too them they said it was like a bank account that he was responsible for and it was just for their daughter. So while he still payed the child support it was all going into this savings account that just had his wife and daughters name on it. Sometimes they used the money for birthdays or doctor's bills. But he said it was helping him focus on the fact that those child support payments were going directly to that account and in essence that account would be used for her colleage education.  So they just lived with that arrangement. But it was their choice and they made it work. (It's been 7 years and they are still doing the same thing).
458083
It sounds to me like a bit of reverse psychology....... just do what you feel is right in your heart. I would marry my partner to if it were legal,but I can't, and yet I still make love to my partner on a daily basis...... don't let your mom behind your closed doors. Those are decisions that you and your partner are going to have to make.
566454
DO NOT ... stand as garantor for any one ..this always ends up bad if the person isnt credit worthy then they obviously dont have a good record with money...and if it is for partner then this may only be a burden if you was to split up later in life......
164728
I'm a family law attorney, so this is an easy one for me.  How about a pre-nuptial agreement that protects your interests.  Also, some pre-marital financial planning with investments that would protect you would be reasonable.\n\nFeel free to e-mail me if you have other questions.
66411
I'm married, and we kinda both do.  We openly discuss our finances every day, he gets a "limit" for how much he can spend on lunch during the week so we dont' run under and also because we have two kids and never know when we'll be seeing the pediatrician.  Even a couple of $20 copays and prescriptions can make a difference in a family's budget.  I usually pay the bills, but we discuss how much goes to the credit cards each month, etc.  Sometimes I'm in charge of the cable bill and sometimes he is if he's got less to do than I do.  Do whatever you have to do to keep out of debt though.  It's hard giving up total control, but just communicate and he'll gladly inform you of your financial status. :)
174453
Who knows why our country's doing anything it's doing. I agree with you completely. I'm sorry that you and your partner, as well as all other homosexuals, cannot show your love by marrying one another. Love is love. I don't think it matters if you're a man loving a man, a woman loving a woman, or a man loving a woman. If your heart is true you should be able to get married. Bottom line. I hope that you and your partner will one day have the same rights as the rest of us. And that this prejudice will end; to any degree it can.
651493
Straight people can't bring their boyfriends over either.\n\nAs I recall this story, they met for a week in Mexico.  I don't think that is the "marriage" the immigration laws seek to protect, regardless of sexual orientation.\n\nPersonally, I have nothing against gays, but I am not currently in favor of liberalizing immigration laws until we settle the mess already on our plate.\n\nMy point was that a one week relationship is hard for me to translate into 'fiance' either.\n\nDoes he really feel certain this is the person he will be with 20 years from now, after one week?  However, I agree that gay relationships are not given the same deference, however longstanding they may be.
104489
After just being married, I'm sure that your mindset is that EVERYTHING should be together.  Seperate accounts is what he is used to at the moment.  This is all new for the both of you.  Give him a little time.  As time goes on, I am willing to bet the accounts will merge.  This is what happened to me.  I'm speaking from experience.  Don't push too much right now.  Lay low on this and see where it goes.
401469
according tu UK Law, its 50/50.  If you have a pre-nuptial agreement, it is not always enforcable by law.  The courts take into account who has the lesser income, that person will almost surely be granted at least half of what you own jointly, be it houses, cars, money in bank etc and if you're a housewife looking after kids, then you and the kids have to be provided for on an ongoing basis.  All wills are null and void that you've made BEFORE your marriage, because by default, your partner becomes a beneficiary if you die.  If your partner was deliberately trying to break up the marriage to eat into your possessions, you have to give evidence for this (eg adultery) and well, you need to speak to a lawyer really, if you want to see justice done.  You can contest whatever your partner claims against you if you feel s/he does not deserve it.
469939
Your story is very complicated i suggest that you see an AR lawyer specializing in estates.\nBelow is a brief outline of the law.\nThe property that each spouse brings into the marriage, that is, the property that s/he owned before the marriage, is considered to be "separate" or "non-marital" property. For the property to remain separate, the spouse must keep it apart from marital or community property; that is, s/he would keep it entirely in his/her name. Once the separate property has been commingled (mixed) with marital or community property, it becomes part of the marital property.\nFor example, consider a bank account with $10,000 in it owned by woman before her marriage. This woman then marries and both she and her husband regularly deposit their respective paychecks into the account and periodically withdraw money to pay for their living expenses. At the time of separation twenty years later, the bank account has $5,000 in it. Since marital property has gone into it (deposits of the paychecks and marital or community debts have been paid from it is impossible to trace the original separate property money from that of marital or community property. The result is that this bank account has changed from separate property to marital property.\nSome states, such as California, have a separate property rule that says that all property brought into the marriage, (including gifts and inheritance), that is kept separate and apart from community property remains the separate property of the spouse that owns it.
598613
Man do I disagree with most of this advice!\n\nFor starters, any debts that occured before you got married are not suddenly "shared" with you.  They are his debts.  The way it's going to effect you is if they (for example) try to repo the home or car.  If you are living there, you lose the home.  But what else did you expect?   It's his home, bought under his credit.  \n\nNow, if you come into this marriage with your home/car they can NOT touch it.  His name is not on the contracts, and in most states they can not place a lien on it unless his name is jointly on it.\n\nYour credit does remain uneffected.  Any property you own (unless in a community property state) is still yours and can't be touched by his creditors.  \n\nWhen I got married, my wife came with a lot of "debt baggage", and creditors were hounding her something terrible.  But I know the law!  I put an end to that harrassment, and they couldn't touch ANY of my property or hurt my credit at all.\n\nI spent the next 2 years rebuilding her credit by co-signing on credit cards and a car loan. Now her credit is better then mine!  \n\nI will suggest that he get the bankruptcy before you get married so you can get a fresh start as soon as possible.