what is a civil union partner

A civil union is a legally recognized relationship between two people that provides state-level protections. It is similar to marriage, but civil unions are only recognized by individual states rather than by federal law, like a marriage. Civil unions grant some or all of the rights of marriage, including inheritance rights, employment benefits, property, parental rights, and healthcare rights. However, the exact level of rights, benefits, obligations, and responsibilities of civil union partners varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Civil unions were primarily legal workarounds for committed same-sex couples before federal recognition of equal marriage rights. It is important to note that civil unions do not provide federal protections, benefits, or responsibilities to couples.