New York’s highest court has granted same-sex parents more of the visitation and custody rights enjoyed by straight couples in the event of divorce or death.

"You’ll have an opportunity to get visitation or custody with your partner’s child," said Cardozo Law School Professor Edward Stein."And the importance of that is not to be underestimated." Previously, the non-biological parent was only guaranteed these rights if he or she formally adopted a child.

The vote in favor of the new rights was 4-3. A minority wanted to extend custody-and-visitation rights to all same-sex couples, but the prevailing opinion limited the rights to couples bound by civil unions.