Supreme Court may boost gay marriage; justices signal they may void key part of federal law
WASHINGTON (AP) — Concluding two days of intense debate, the Supreme Court signaled Wednesday it could give a boost to same-sex marriage by striking down the federal law that denies legally married gay spouses a wide range of benefits offered to other couples.
As the court wrapped up its remarkable arguments over gay marriage in America, a majority of the justices indicated they will invalidate part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act — if they can get past procedural problems similar to those that appeared to mark Tuesday's case over California's ban on same-sex marriage.
Since the federal law was enacted in 1996, nine states and the District of Columbia have made it legal for gays and lesbians to marry. Same-sex unions also were legal in California for nearly five months in 2008 before the Proposition 8 ban.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, often the decisive vote in close cases, joined the four more-liberal justices in raising questions Wednesday about a provision that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman for purposes of federal law.
A guide to insuring an bunoccupied home/b, building or vacant b.../b
A guide to insuring an unoccupied home, building or vacant property
This guide will help those that have been left in the position of insuring an unoccupied home or building, such as a property which has been inherited, subject to probate, unoccupied and under – going renovations, awaiting tenants, or in the unfortunate event that the owner has been taken into care.
Why is unoccupied home insurance so hard to find?
Unoccupied building insurance can very hard to source; the reason for this is because there are very few insurers that cover this type of risk.
Insurers see that an empty property has a higher risk of fire, theft and malicious damage. Coupled with this is the fact that the damage may not be discovered for some time (until the next inspection by the insured or their representative) therefore increasing the possible damage claim to the property, for example, consider the damage which could occur to an unoccupied property which suffers from escape of water from a leaking tap which has been leaking for month.
So what types of cover are available for unoccupied buildings cover?
Basically there are two levels of cover to choose from an insurer. The basic level will cover Fire, Lightening, Explosion and Aircraft claims (you may sometimes get earthquake and subsidence cover included as well)
Normally this basic cover is offered to properties undergoing renovations. It should really only be offered as a last resort as the chances of a lightening or earthquake claim are remote!
Alternatively you can obtain cover which can include the basic cover and also include accidental damage to fixed glass, escape of water, theft or attempted theft & even malicious damage to the unoccupied property.
This cover is more in line with conventional home insurance and can even be offered to properties undergoing minor repairs such as painting and decorating or the fitting of kitchen units.
