Gay Couple’s Custody Spat Opens Michigan Same-Sex Parent Rights

A child custody battle between an unwed gay couple spurred a novel Michigan Supreme Court ruling that could launch a wave of new litigation over how to divide same-sex couples’ assets after a falling out.

The justices piggy-backed off of a court-created test that grants parental rights for nonbiological “equitable” opposite-sex parents so long as they have cultivated a relationship with the child, the parent wants to have parental rights, and is willing to pay child support, under the Monday ruling.

The limited circumstances of the decision—the test is open only to couples who wanted to but couldn’t ...