BOSTON (AP) — New policies in Massachusetts, Vermont and a handful of other states mean same-sex partners can quickly and easily secure their parental rights with a simple form at the hospital rather than having to spend thousands of dollars in court to get an adoption.
Three years after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that gave same-sex couples the right to marry nationwide, lawyers say a patchwork of outdated state laws governing who can be a legal parent presents obstacles for many LGBTQ couples who start a family.
Some states are now allowing same-sex couples to utilize a process that's long been used by unmarried heterosexual couples to establish who the father is. Advocates and lawyers say it will mean less headaches and legal complications for same-sex couples.
