Since Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, thousands of couples have built lives together under the same legal protections as opposite-sex spouses. However, when a same-sex marriage ends, the process of divorce can present unique emotional and legal challenges. While the law treats all marriages equally, certain issues—such as asset division, child custody, and the marital home—can be more complex depending on how long the relationship existed