Are civil unions recognized in the federal and state court systems?
Yes, civil unions in the state of Washington are recognized in the federal and state court systems. Civil unions are a form of legal recognition given to couples in a committed relationship that are not married. Couples who enter into a civil union receive the same legal benefits, protections and responsibilities as married couples. In the state of Washington, civil unions are legally recognized with the same rights and responsibilities as a legal marriage. This includes rights related to property, health care decisions, the ability to file taxes jointly and the ability to make medical decisions for someone who is incapacitated. This also means civil unions are subject to many of the same regulations and laws that married couples are subject to. Recognition of civil unions in the state of Washington extends to the federal level as well. The US Supreme Court ruled in a 2015 decision that all states must recognize marriages and civil unions from other states as legally binding. This means that all couples in a civil union who reside in Washington will be legally recognized as a couple both in the state and in any other state that honors same sex marriage and civil unions. Both the federal and the state court systems in Washington recognize civil unions. This means that the rights and responsibilities granted by the civil union are legally enforced in the courts, just as they would be for any married couple.
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