Does a civil union provide the same rights to partners as a traditional marriage?

In Colorado, the answer to the question of whether a civil union provides the same rights to partners as a traditional marriage is yes, and no. Yes, in the sense that civil unions grant couples nearly all the same legal rights as marriage, including access to family health insurance, the ability to make medical decisions for each other, access to survivorship benefits, and the ability to receive spousal support in the event of a break up. No, in the sense that civil unions are not recognized by the federal government and therefore do not confer federal benefits to partners, such as joint filing of taxes, and access to social security survivorship benefits, as well as immigration benefits to foreign partners. Overall, civil unions offer many of the same benefits as traditional marriage, but couples must understand that they are not recognized under federal law and thus cannot get the same benefits that married couples can. Each partner should understand their rights and responsibilities before entering into a civil union, and seek legal advice if they are unsure.

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Does a civil union provide the same rights to partners as a traditional marriage?

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