Are there any legal restrictions on civil unions?
Yes, there are legal restrictions on civil unions in California. Generally speaking, two people must be at least 18 years of age, not be too closely related (siblings, for example), and not be married to another person in order to legally enter into a civil union in California. Additionally, the couple must both be of the same gender in order to get a civil union in California, as same-sex marriage is not yet legal in the state. There are a few other legal restrictions put in place to further protect the civil union rights of couples. For example, couples must sign a Declaration of Civil Union that certifies that they meet the legal requirements and are entering into the union of their own free will. Also, if the couple wishes to have their union recognized by the state, they must apply for a California Civil Union Certificate, which is issued by both county and state governments. Overall, while California civil unions are similar to marriage in many respects, there are still a number of legal requirements that must be met in order for a civil union to be legally binding. These restrictions were put in place to ensure that the rights of individuals in a civil union are respected and that the terms of the union are legally recognized by the state.
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