Do civil unions provide the same legal rights as marriage?

In Texas, civil unions do not provide the same legal rights as marriage. Civil unions, which are available for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, confer certain limited legal rights to couples, including equitable division of assets in the event of a separation or death, but do not offer the same rights as marriage. For example, civil union couples are not entitled to certain federal recognition, such as filing joint income taxes and obtaining spousal Social Security benefits. They are not allowed to file for spousal inheritance tax benefits, and they are not considered married for purposes of state tax benefits. Additionally, because Texas does not recognize civil unions, couples in a civil union would not have access to the same benefits, rights, and privileges of a legally-recognized marriage. This includes the exclusive right to adopt children, make medical decisions for one another in the event of incapacity, and the ability to access spousal health insurance. Ultimately, civil unions are not legally recognized as marriage in Texas, and therefore, couples in a civil union do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as those who are married.

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