Are there any liabilities associated with a civil union?
A civil union is a legally recognized relationship between two people that provides many of the same rights and privileges that married couples have. In Texas, there are no state-recognized civil unions, but couples can enter into a private agreement and have it notarized. While having a civil union does afford certain benefits, it also has certain liabilities associated with it. The most important liability associated with a civil union in Texas is that it does not provide the same protections as a legally recognized marriage. Unlike married couples, if either person in the civil union needs medical care, the other partner may not have the same authority to make important decisions on behalf of their partner. Additionally, if the civil union is dissolved, any assets owned jointly, such as property, money, and other assets, will need to be divided between the two parties in the civil union, which can be complicated and costly. Finally, since civil unions are not legally recognized in Texas, there are no specific laws that govern the dissolution of the union. Therefore, if the parties wish to end the civil union, they will need to do so through the private agreement that they initially established. This can be difficult and expensive if the two parties do not agree on how to dissolve the union. In short, while a civil union can offer some benefits, it is important to be aware of the liabilities associated with it before entering into one. A lawyer can provide important guidance about the legal implications of having a civil union in Texas.
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