Are civil unions recognized by the federal government?

No, civil unions are not recognized by the federal government in the United States. Under federal law, marriage between a man and a woman is the only legal union recognized. All other unions — including civil unions — are not allowed. Civil unions are a legal arrangement between two people that grant limited rights and privileges to the two partners in the union. In Florida, civil unions can be entered into by two people of any gender, however they are not considered marriages and are not recognized as such by the state. The civil union does provide some legal protection to both parties, such as the ability for the partners to access medical information and establish a natural parent–child relationship through a court process. However, civil unions are not legally equivalent to marriage and are not recognized by the federal government. This means that partners in a civil union may not be eligible for certain federal benefits that are available to married couples, such as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, or certain tax breaks. The legal rights and recognition associated with civil unions vary from state to state, so it’s important to understand the legal implications of a civil union before entering into one.

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Are civil unions recognized by the federal government?

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