Family of Missouri Highway Patrolman Denied Benefits

The dependents of a Missouri highway patrolman killed in the line of duty on Christmas Day are being denied benefits from his employer and a group that gives aid to families of killed officers. The reason the officer's son and partner were denied benefits is that the couple was gay and in Missouri, there is a ban on same sex marriage. His partner of 15 years faces financial obstacles in dealing with the dead man's bills.

The case is raising questions about the denial of benefits to same sex couples and their dependents.

Fox News' JACO Report explores the issues. Married couples are automatically entitled to over 1100 benefits, according to the report, but gay couples should have comprehensive probate documents in place for basic protections in the event of a death. Because a will was not available in the Missouri patrolman situation, the case will go to probate court and the outcome is unclear. Basic issues, such as claiming a body, testifying against a partner and so on are discussed during the interview. In one example given, a couple was together for 25 years. One of them died, after not talking with his blood relative family for 40 years. His body sat in cold storage for six months because the state did not consider the partner to be next of kin.

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