Is a civil union a legal contract?

Yes, a civil union is a form of legal contract. In California, a civil union is a formal agreement between two people that is legally recognized and that creates certain rights and responsibilities between them. These rights and responsibilities typically mirror those offered by marriage. The California Family Code defines a civil union as “a legally recognized relationship of two persons of the same sex, existing upon the filing of a declaration of civil union in the presence of a person authorized to solemnize and attest to the civil union and the filing of the declaration with the [Recorder].” In other words, the civil union is created through a written document called a Declaration of Civil Union, which is signed by the two people in the union and witnessed and notarized by an authorized individual. Within the civil union, the two parties are given a number of rights and responsibilities including decision-making authority regarding medical care, joint custody of children, and inheritance rights. Additionally, the civil union provides the two parties with legal protection in cases such as hospital visitation, the right to make medical decisions for their partner and the right to inherit property. Overall, a civil union is a legal contract between two people that is legally recognized in the state of California. It grants the two parties certain rights and responsibilities, providing them with legal and financial protection.

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Is a civil union a legal contract?

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