(Bloomberg) -- The Supreme Court’s decision to allow same- sexmarriage nationwide will remove tax and personal-finance headachesthat have bedeviled gay couples.

The 5-4 decision by the court is aparticularly significant victory for many residents of the 14states where same-sex marriages were banned until Friday, oftenunder state constitutional amendments.

Gay couples who are married will now be able to file joint statetax returns, inherit property easily and enjoy hospital- visitationrights just like opposite-sex couples can. In his majority opinion,Justice Anthony Kennedy cited these and other practical benefits ofmarriage as a reason to require states to recognize same-sexmarriages.

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