Is a civil union recognized by the federal government?

No, a civil union is not recognized by the federal government. A civil union is a legally recognized union between two people that is similar to a marriage, and it is recognized only in the state of California. In California, a civil union provides the same rights and privileges to couples that a marriage does, including the ability to file joint taxes, own property together, receive survivor benefits, and make medical decisions for one another. At the federal level, however, the federal government does not recognize civil unions and does not grant them the same rights and privileges that it grants to married couples. This means that a couple in a civil union cannot collect Social Security survivor benefits, cannot use their marital status to file federal income taxes, and cannot participate in the Family and Medical Leave Act. In order to receive these federal benefits, couples in California must get married to access the rights and privileges of marriage under federal law. It is important to remember, however, that civil unions still exist in California and provide the same legal rights and privileges that a marriage would provide, just without federal recognition.

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Is a civil union recognized by the federal government?

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