Do civil unions provide the same legal rights as marriage?
No, civil unions are not the same as marriage in South Carolina. Civil unions were created in 2011 to give same-sex couples rights similar to those afforded to married couples, but the unions do not bestow the same legal rights as marriage. The primary difference between marriage and civil unions is that marriages are recognized under federal law, while civil unions are not. This means that same-sex couples who enter into a civil union are not eligible for the same federal benefits, such as tax breaks, Social Security, and health insurance, as married couples. Additionally, couples in civil unions are not eligible to sponsor a partner for immigration. Civil unions also have different legal implications than marriages. For example, in South Carolina, if a couple in a civil union choose to end their relationship, they must go through the court system to dissolve the union instead of filing for a divorce the way a married couple can. Similarly, survivors of couples in civil unions may not be eligible for death benefits unless the couple had certain estate plans in place. Overall, civil unions provide some of the same rights and privileges as marriage, but they do not bring the same federal recognition and benefits. While civil unions may allow same-sex couples to formalize their relationship, they do not provide the same legal rights as marriage.
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