Are civil unions recognized on death certificates?
In South Carolina, civil unions are not recognized on death certificates. A civil union is a legally recognized relationship between two people that offers many of the same benefits of a marriage. However, civil unions are not considered marriages in many states, including South Carolina. Within the state, civil unions are not viewed as legally binding contracts, meaning that the rights and privileges associated with a marriage, such as inheritance, are not provided for couples in civil unions. This often means that, should one of the partners in the civil union pass away, the surviving partner may not receive certain rights, such as the right to the deceased’s estate or any joint assets. On death certificates, the state of South Carolina does not recognize civil unions as a valid form of relationship and will not list the partner of the deceased as anything other than “unmarried.” This can make it difficult for the surviving partner to receive any benefits from the deceased partner’s estate. Therefore, it is important for those in civil unions to be aware of the legal implications that come with not having the same rights as those in marriages. It is important to create a will or establish other legal means of protection for the surviving spouse. If couples in civil unions wish to ensure that their partner is legally recognized in death, they must take the necessary steps to do so.
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