Are civil unions considered marriages under the law?
In North Carolina, civil unions are not considered equal to a marriage under the state’s laws. A civil union is a legal agreement between two individuals who are not married; it allows them to have many of the same rights as a married couple with financial, social, and legal benefits. While civil unions are treated similarly to marriage in many ways, the state of North Carolina does not recognize it as a marriage. In North Carolina, the only way to legally recognize a marital relationship is through a marriage that is recognized under state law. This includes the rights to file joint state income tax returns, receive Social Security benefits, health insurance coverage, and certain other benefits that are available to married couples. Civil unions do not have this same recognition and are not seen as equal to a marriage under the law. In addition, North Carolina does not recognize civil unions from other states. This means that couples who are in a civil union in another state are not seen as married even if the other state legally recognizes the union. Therefore, it can be concluded that civil unions are not considered marriages under the law in North Carolina. Civil unions are not recognized as equal to a marriage and do not provide the same legal benefits as a marriage in the state. Couples that are looking for a legally-binding union must get married in order for it to be recognized in North Carolina.
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