Although same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, there is no federal recognition for domestic partners or civil union registrants, and many couples have messy and unresolved agreements and/or registrations that need to be cleaned up. Couples also need to consider whether they want to extend marital rights (and duties) retroactive to when they first starting living together as a couple, and those with children may need to resolve issues of legal parentage.

All of these issues will be addressed in the new edition of Making It Legal, which provides a brief history of the same-sex marriage movement, an overview of emerging trends, and a discussion of the factors involved in the personal decision to marry, including:

• whether a pre-nup agreement is advisable what it involves
• whether you will be responsible for your partner''s debts if you''re married
• how to evaluate the effect of taxes on shared lives
• when to turn to professionals for help during disagreements
• when a will or living trust might be needed, and
• more!