Do civil unions provide any legal protections against debt?
Civil unions do provide some legal protection against debt. In the state of Washington, couples in a civil union are considered "joint tenants," not tenants in common. This designation means that the debts of one partner are the responsibility of both partners. For example, if one partner has a loan in their name and they die, the surviving partner is responsible for the debt. This protection applies only for debt incurred after the civil union is established. Additionally, couples in a civil union are allowed to file joint income tax returns. The couple is responsible for any tax associated with the jointly filed return. This is an important relief for couples that might otherwise have to face the burden of two separate income tax filings. Civil unions also provide a legal framework for making decisions if one partner becomes incapacitated or dies. This is known as an estate plan. The couple can establish a plan for their assets in the event of death or incapacitation. This includes specifying who is entitled to receive the financial assets of the couple. This estate plan provides important legal protection as it keeps the assets from being decided upon by a court in the event that one partner dies or becomes incapacitated. Overall, civil unions provide some legal protections against debt, particularly when one partner dies or becomes incapacitated. Couples in civil unions can also benefit from filing joint income tax returns and creating an estate plan for their assets.
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