On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-4 vote that the Constitution guarantees the right to same-sex marriage. Accordingly, same-sex married couples should now be able to file joint Federal and state income tax returns, utilize both the Federal and state martial deductions, inherit property easily and enjoy the same hospital-visitation rights as opposite-sex married couples. The majority opinion cited these, along with other practical benefits of marriage, as reasons, among others, to require states to recognize same-sex marriage. It is also expected that tax-related legislation will be introduced in light of this decision.
