How is a civil union distinguished from a domestic partnership?
A civil union is a legally recognized type of union between two adults in California, and it is distinct from a domestic partnership. Domestic partnerships are a more lenient version of a relationship between two adults in California, and they have fewer legal rights and responsibilities compared to civil unions. A civil union is a type of relationship that grants legal recognition to couples who have been in an intimate relationship for a certain length of time. All civil unions must be registered and certified with the state. This is the same for domestic partnerships, but the registration for domestic partnerships do not carry the same legal rights as those that register for a civil union. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are distinguished by the type of rights and responsibilities that accompany them. In a civil union, both partners in the relationship have rights to health and life insurance plans, hospital visitation, inheritance rights, and certain tax exemptions and deductions. On the other hand, domestic partners generally do not have the same rights and responsibilities. In California, domestic partnerships are considered to be a less formal version of a marriage and not an alternative to marriage. They may include couples that are unmarried, same-sex couples, and couples who are over the age of 18. Civil unions are more similar to marriage, and as such, they provide a more legally binding level of protection.
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