Simple English definitions for legal terms
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The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a law that says states don't have to recognize same-sex marriages and defines marriage as only between a man and a woman for federal purposes. It was made because some people were worried that if one state allowed same-sex marriage, other states would have to accept it too.
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a law passed by the federal government that has three main parts:
DOMA was created because some people were worried that if one state allowed same-sex marriages, other states would have to recognize those marriages too. By passing DOMA, the federal government made it clear that states did not have to recognize same-sex marriages if they didn't want to.
For example, if a same-sex couple gets married in Massachusetts (where same-sex marriage is legal), but then moves to Texas (where it is not), Texas does not have to recognize their marriage. This means that the couple may not be able to access certain legal benefits that are only available to married couples, such as Social Security survivor benefits or the ability to file joint tax returns.