Before I Do

<b>A comprehensive guide to marriage-perks consequences and everything in between-aimed at the LGBTQ+ community from a leading gay rights lawyer.</b><br> <br> Not long ago same-sex couples had to jump through endless hoops to make their relationships even close to legal. Happily those days are over. But here's the rub: many gay and lesbian couples accustomed to living off-grid are so thrilled to have the benefits of marriage that they jump into it without fully considering the consequences.<br> <br> In <i>Before I Do</i> leading gay rights attorney Elizabeth F. Schwartz spells out the range of practical considerations any couple should address before tying the knot. She explains the rights married couples have-and those they do not. With cameos from some of the most prominent LGBTQ+ professionals Schwartz explores all of the implications of marriage from name changes and getting a license to taxes insurance Social Security and much more.<br> <br> Chapters on estate planning pre- and post-nuptial agreements and organizing finances make <i>Before I Do</i> a crucial handbook for anyone considering marriage-because as Schwartz explains just because you <i>can</i> get married does not mean you <i>should</i>.<br> <br> During my thirty years of covering the gay beat for the <i>Miami Herald</i> never did I imagine the need for a marriage guide for LGBT couples. Yet today nothing is more urgent. <i>Before I Do</i> guides all couples gay and otherwise about the responsibilities of marriage. Ignore it at your peril. -Steve Rothaus <i>The Miami Herald</i>