GN 00210: Same-Sex Marriage Claims
TN 27 (02-16)
A. When to use this information about when states and U.S. Territories permitted same-sex marriages
Use this information as a factor in the determination of whether a marriage was validly entered into.
If the marriage occurred on or after the date in Column II, we will presume that the marriage is valid as of the date it was celebrated.
The question of whether a particular marriage was validly celebrated is different from the question of whether the law of the relevant state or territory recognized the marriage. All states must permit same-sex marriage and recognize valid same-sex marriages from other states.
1. When to request a legal opinion
If the date of marriage was not during a period when the state or territory (that issued the marriage license) permitted same-sex marriages, request a legal opinion per GN 01010.815.
2. Title XVI claims
For Title XVI claims, appeals, and post-eligibility actions, also refer to GN 00210.800.
B. States
|
COLUMN I |
COLUMN II |
|
State |
Date Same-Sex Marriages Were First Permitted in the State |
|
Alabama |
February 9, 2015 |
|
Alaska |
October 17, 2014 |
|
Arizona |
October 17, 2014 |
|
Arkansas |
May 9, 2014 through May 16, 2014; June 26, 2015 to present |
|
California |
June 16, 2008 through November 4, 2008; June 26, 2013 to present |
|
Colorado |
June 25, 2014 through July 18, 2014; October 6, 2014 to present |
|
Connecticut |
November 12, 2008 |
|
Delaware |
July 1, 2013 |
|
District of Columbia |
March 9, 2010 |
|
Florida |
January 5, 2015 |
|
Georgia |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Hawaii |
December 2, 2013 |
|
Idaho |
October 15, 2014 |
|
Illinois |
December 16, 2013 |
|
Indiana |
June 25 through June 27, 2014; October 6, 2014 to present |
|
Iowa |
April 20, 2009 |
|
Kansas |
November 12, 2014 |
|
Kentucky |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Louisiana |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Maine |
December 29, 2012 |
|
Maryland |
January 1, 2013 |
|
Massachusetts |
May 17, 2004 |
|
Michigan |
March 21 through 22, 2014; June 26, 2015 to present |
|
Minnesota |
August 1, 2013 |
|
Mississippi |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Missouri |
June 25, 2014 |
|
Montana |
November 19, 2014 |
|
Nebraska |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Nevada |
October 9, 2014 |
|
New Hampshire |
January 1, 2010 |
|
New Jersey |
October 21, 2013 |
|
New Mexico |
August 21, 2013 |
|
New York |
July 24, 2011 |
|
North Carolina |
October 10, 2014 |
|
North Dakota |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Ohio |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Oklahoma |
October 6, 2014 |
|
Oregon |
May 19, 2014 |
|
Pennsylvania |
May 20, 2014 |
|
Rhode Island |
August 1, 2013 |
|
South Carolina |
November 19, 2014 |
|
South Dakota |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Tennessee |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Texas |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Utah |
December 20, 2013 through January 6, 2014; October 6, 2014 to present |
|
Vermont |
September 1, 2009 |
|
Virginia |
October 6, 2014 |
|
Washington |
December 6, 2012 |
|
West Virginia |
October 9, 2014 |
|
Wisconsin |
June 6 through June 13, 2014; October 6, 2014 to present |
|
Wyoming |
October 21, 2014 |
C. U.S. Territories
|
COLUMN I |
COLUMN II |
|
U.S. Territory |
Date Same-Sex Marriages Were First Permitted in the U.S. Territory |
|
American Samoa |
June 26, 2015. |
|
Guam |
June 9, 2015 |
|
Northern Mariana Islands |
June 26, 2015 |
|
Puerto Rico |
June 26, 2015 |
|
U.S. Virgin Islands |
June 26, 2015 |