09/21/2013 // Dallas, Texas, United States // Attorney Keith Clouse (Blog) // Keith Clouse

This summer, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act provision that defined certain terms for the purposes of federal statutes. United States v. Windsor, No. 12-307 (June 26, 2013, available at http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_6j37.pdf. Under DOMA, a "marriage" was a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife and a "spouse" was a person of the opposite sex. Now, those definitions no longer apply. This landmark ruling impacts over 1,000 federal laws, and the ruling will have far-reaching effects on many employers.

Federal agencies have already begun to issue guidance about handling certain legal issues, such as tax and immigration issues. More federal agencies are expected to follow suit. Employers in all states—even those headquartered in states that don’t recognize same-sex marriage—must stay informed about this evolving area of the law. The impact will likely be especially significant for employers that employ people in multiple states.

To learn more about how this change in the law impacts the way your business handles employment matters, contact an employment lawyer in your area. This article is presented by the employment law attorneys at Clouse Dunn LLP. For inquiries, send an email to debra@clousedunn.com or call (214) 239-2705.

Contact Keith Clouse

KEITH A. CLOUSE

Clouse Dunn LLP

214.220.2722 214.220.3833 ( fax) keith@clousedunn.com

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