Marriage Equality in Illinois: Things to Consider after "I Do"

(Undated) -- Some newlywed same-sex couples in Illinois are learning there’s a lot to think about after saying "I do." Bernard Cherkasov, who heads the group Equality Illinois, says they've heard from many of the five-thousand couples who have taken advantage of the state's new "Freedom to Marry" law, who have questions about what marriage equality means for them, legally. He says that includes rights related to probate, health-care decisions, and medical and life insurance. And if the marriage ends, it must be dissolved by a state court. Same-sex marriages from other states are recognized in Illinois, and couples with civil unions can convert to a marriage retroactive to the date of their civil union.