{"id":354812,"date":"2023-04-03T12:40:43","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T17:40:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/lgbtq-law\/respect-for-marriage-act.html"},"modified":"2026-06-03T15:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:53:00","slug":"respect-for-marriage-act","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/respect-for-marriage-act.html","title":{"rendered":"The Respect for Marriage Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Respect for Marriage Act<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Vaishali Gaur, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Bridget Molitor, JD<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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The Respect for Marriage Act is a federal law that requires all states and the federal government to recognize valid same\u2011sex and interracial marriages performed anywhere in the United States. It repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and provides important protections for couples if future court decisions ever limit marriage rights.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

On December 13, 2022, President Biden signed into law the\u00a0Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), a federal law ensuring that all state and federal governments recognize marriages regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.<\/p>\n

This article provides an overview of the Respect for Marriage Act<\/a> and how it applies to same-sex couples.<\/p>\n

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Marriage laws for same\u2011sex couples have shifted dramatically over the past few decades. It\u2019s understandable to feel overwhelmed or confused. Contact an attorney near you<\/a> for clear, up-to-date legal guidance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Laws Preceding the Respect for Marriage Act<\/h2>\n

In 1996, President Clinton signed the\u00a0Defense of Marriage Act<\/a> into law. The Defense of Marriage Act:<\/p>\n