New York Divorce Report - New York's Divorce and Family Law Blog

Courts throughout New York continue to expand the rights of parties in same-sex marriages. For the first time, a judge has ruled that the survivor of a legal same-sex marriage is entitled to inherit from his spouse's estate. Although New York will not recognize a same-sex marriage performed within the state, with a few exceptions, courts and state agencies will recognize marriages solemnized in Canada, Massachusetts and other states where same sex marriage is legal. In Matter of the Estate of H. Kenneth Ranftle, Surrogate Judge Kristin Booth Glen designated J. Craig Leiby as the "surviving spouse and sole distributee"... More