Does a civil union confer any additional rights or benefits?

A civil union is a legal arrangement that allows couples to enjoy many of the same rights and benefits as married couples without being legally married. In California, a civil union grants couples the right to register as domestic partners, which can provide access to such benefits as medical and health insurance, shared property rights, hospital visitation, and more. Civil unions in California do not provide couples with all of the same rights that married couples enjoy, however. These rights include the ability to jointly file taxes and share Social Security benefits with one another, as well as the legal authority to make medical decisions for one another. Additionally, civil unions cannot be dissolved by either partner, as marriages can be terminated through divorce. Overall, while civil unions do not provide couples with the same benefits as marriage, they do allow couples to form a meaningful relationship that can provide them with a number of legal rights and benefits. For couples in California who are not able to get married but wish to form an official relationship, civil unions may be an ideal solution.

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Does a civil union confer any additional rights or benefits?

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