The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling last month striking down provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act is undeniably a huge victory for same-sex couples. But it also raises questions — some that could fester for years — for federal and state governments, advisors and the couples themselves. Let's review some of them.

Benefits aplenty

Among the outstanding issues is which of the 1,000-plus federal benefits married same-sex couples living in non-recognition states are eligible to receive. Frederick Hertz, an attorney, SameSexLaw.com, San Francisco, says that a federal task force has been assigned the job of determining benefits that can be extended to places of celebration (states where couples were married) by executive order, agency rule-making or Congressional legislation.