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What does the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision declaring DOMA unconstitutional mean to Illinois same-sex couples?
Well, while a great moral victory and as portents for the future, a great deal; in the immediate material sense – not much. Why? Because it affects only same-sex couples who are legally married and/or reside in a state that permits same-sex couples to be married.
As Illinois allows only civil unions, most of the benefits of the ruling are not yet available here, with perhaps one exception. Upon the death of one member of a civil union, the Illinois estate tax law does allow the same marital deduction as is available to heterosexual married couples.