“…Beyond being just a barometer of acceptance, recognition of a relationship's legality is salient because legal recognition provides rights and protections (Oswald & Kuvalanka, ), relationship security and confidence (Whitton et al, ), and structural and moral barriers to leaving the union (Johnson, Caughlin, & Huston, ; see also Herek, ; Lannutti, ). For example, before same‐sex marriage was legalized, many couples sought ways to provide a sense of security and certainty, such as filing power of attorney to establish legal interdependence (see Oswald, ; Riggle, Rostosky, Prather, & Hamrin, ; see also Porche & Purvin, ).…”