CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Don’t miss our latest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A Yakima County, Wash., superior court judge ruled Friday that two women ending a 10-year relationship must divide their assets equally--a decision that amounts to a divorce in a state that does not recognize same-sex marriage. Judge Heather Van Nuys said the relationship between Yakima physician Julia Robertson and Seattle nurse Linda Gormley was "sufficiently marriage-like to provide equitable relief." Gormley considered the ruling both a personal victory and a major accomplishment for same-sex couples everywhere. "Before, we had minimal legal protections," said Gormley, who sued Robertson after the couple ended their relationship in 1998. "Hopefully, now that changes." Van Nuys called the couple's relationship an "intimate domestic partnership," allowing both women the same property rights given to a husband and wife in a divorce. While the women never entered into a marriage contract, "they did engage in activities directly affecting their careers, assets, and debts, including pooling resources, commingling funds, becoming jointly liable on debts, supporting each other's life choices and career-building or career-hindering choices," Van Nuys wrote in her ruling. The two women shared a home titled in Robertson's name only. Gormley was responsible for her share of debts owed on joint credit accounts but had no claim to the house. Van Nuys said it would be unfair for Robertson "to retain all the property, the home, the equity, and the improvements and be responsible for only half of the jointly held credit cards she maintained during the relationship." Gormley received cash for her share of the house, and the two split common debts. Other property, including furniture and cars, was divided between them. Robertson's lawyer, Bryan Myre, has asked Van Nuys to reconsider the financial terms of the ruling at a hearing scheduled for Friday. He said he is unsure whether Robertson will appeal Van Nuys's ruling. If an appellate court were to uphold the decision, it would set a precedent for courts statewide. In May the state supreme court, in the case of Vasquez v. Hawthorne, ruled that a Seattle man's 30-year same-sex relationship was enough like a marriage to grant him a share of his deceased partner's estate. But that precedent had never before been applied in the breakup of a same-sex couple, Myre said. State representative Ed Murray (D-Seattle) said the decision to treat a same-sex couple like a married couple is the first of its kind in the state. An openly gay member of the legislature, Murray told the Yakima Herald-Republic that Van Nuys's ruling is "fairly enormous for Washington State."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lauren Boebert Caught Fondling Date’s Genitals During Family-Friendly Musical: Video
September 15 2023 11:20 PM
Don’t miss our latest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Sarah McBride Leads Delaware Congressional Poll and Would Be First Trans U.S. Representative
September 19 2023 6:52 PM
Missouri Republican Vows to Burn 'Woke Pornographic Books' If Elected Governor
September 19 2023 5:00 PM
Incel Influencer Sneako’s Young Fans Yell ‘All Gays Should Die’ in Viral Video
September 19 2023 4:05 PM
Marjorie Taylor Greene Shares Fake Video of Pride Flag Tussle as If It's Real
September 19 2023 11:00 AM
Lauren Boebert Apparently Disinvited From Right-Wing Youth Conference Over Theater Scandal
September 18 2023 5:33 PM