Hoping to get some better understanding from the smarter people here. [View all]

[Amimnoch]

I've been so overjoyed since yesterday about SCOTUS decisions that have moved us towards equality, but now that I've thought about it, and read some of the news stories, I have more questions than ever, and was hoping some of the more well read, and "law smart" people here could help me understand:

1. Am I understanding correctly that you have to live in a state that recognizes gay marriage/unions in order to receive the federal benefits? (several of the news articles I've read has mentioned this)
2. Does this mean that If someone gets married in a state, say Washington state, but lives in a state that has no law.. for or against, that they automatically are not considered married by the federal government? Same question, but what if they live in a state that has specifically denied same sex marriage rights? I can understand (don't agree, but understand) that our marriages won't be recognized for states benefits/laws, but I don't understand how the federal government can refuse any state's marriage certificate now, regardless of where the persons live.

3. What about expats who live outside of the US? Does their benefits rely on the law of the Conroy they live in?

4. If a couple gets married in a state that allows.. and lives in that state, but at some point moves to a state that doesn't allow it, are they still married as far as federal law is concerned?

5. If a couple gets married, and lives in a "legal" state, get divorced, and some judgment (custody, alimony, child support) etc.. is judged against one, and that one moves to a state that specifically defines marriage as between a "man and woman"... can they use this as a way to get out of the legal decision, since the state of residency law is used, and they were "never really married" to begin with by that states law?