Are civil unions recognized by the federal government?
No, civil unions are not recognized by the federal government. Civil unions are a legally recognized relationship between two people, similar to marriage, but not granted the same protections of legal marriage. Because civil unions are not marriage, they are not treated the same under the law as marriage. In North Carolina, civil unions are not legally recognized or granted any of the rights and benefits associated with marriage. This means that North Carolina civil unions do not afford the partners involved any federal rights or benefits, including those related to health care, Social Security, tax filing, immigration, or inheritance. Federal government regulations also do not allow civil unions to be considered the same as marriage for visas and immigration, which means that a U.S. citizen cannot bring their foreign, civil union partner into the country with the same ease that a married partner can. Furthermore, civil unions are not recognized in the eyes of the law and therefore provide fewer protections when it comes to marriage-related matters such as insurance, inheritance, and tax filing. In conclusion, civil unions are not recognized by the federal government and therefore do not provide the same rights and benefits as legally recognized marriage. This means that North Carolina civil union partners are not eligible for many federal rights or benefits, including those related to immigration, health care, and Social Security.
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