Ingham County register of deeds and Lansing City Clerk demand equal property protections for same-sex partners
MASON – Ingham County Register of Deeds Curtis Hertel Jr. and Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope are spearheading an effort to ensure equal property rights protections for same-sex couples in Michigan. Swope filed his marriage certificate and affidavit this afternoon in Hertel’s office, seeking to give same-sex couples the same protections that traditional couples have in the event of a tragedy. Both are calling on the courts to recognize these documents in the name of fairness.
“There is no excuse not to provide the same protections for same-sex couples as straight couples,” said Curtis Hertel Jr., Ingham County Register of Deeds. “After a tragedy, the last thing a partner in a relationship should have to worry about is losing the home they’ve shared with their loved one for years. It’s shameful, and it’s time to take action.”
Under Michigan’s current law, if a couple is not married and one partner dies, the other partner is not legally entitled to bereavement leave from work or to automatically inherit a shared home, assets or personal items in the absence of a will. Advocates for marriage equality want Michigan to correct that injustice and lead the nation when it comes to equal rights for same-sex partners. Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope wants protections for him and his partner, and the home they’ve lived in for years.
“My husband and I were legally married in Canada 9 years ago, and we should have the same rights as everybody else,” said Chris Swope, Lansing City Clerk. “It’s sad to think that even though we have shared a life together for 15 years, we’re still not recognized in the eyes of the law and have no property rights according to current regulations. We’re demanding change.”
Equality Michigan has been working tirelessly by advocating for the rights of same-sex couples and an end to discrimination in Michigan.
“The state of Michigan has no right to define the boundaries of love or property rights when it comes to same- sex couples,” said Emily Dievendorf of Equality Michigan. “It’s time we stop discriminating against same-sex partners, and expand protections to couples regardless of their sexual orientation. These reforms are long overdue, and now is the time for change.”
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum echoes the call for equality and property rights for same-sex couples, and hopes the courts recognize these documents.
“I encourage property rights protections for ALL Michigan residents regardless of their sexual orientation,” Byrum said. “Requiring married same-sex couples to jump through additional legal hoops in order to have the same rights as straight married couples is unacceptable.”
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