Are there any civil union laws in the United States?
Yes, a few states in the United States have passed civil union laws. In the United States, civil union laws provide a way for same-sex couples to formalize their relationships and gain many of the rights of married couples. Civil union laws differ from state to state, but generally they provide some of the same legal protections and benefits to same-sex couples as heterosexual couples receive from marriage. In North Carolina, civil union laws are not recognized. In 2012, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law (H.B.780) to define marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. The law also made it illegal to issue any marriage licenses for same-sex couples, including for civil unions. This law was later overturned in 2014 after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling made it legal for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 U.S. states. Since then, same-sex couples and partnerships have been able to enter into legally recognized marriages in North Carolina. While there are no civil union laws in the state, there are some other legal options for couples. These include domestic partnerships, which provide some of the same rights as a civil union, such as hospital visitation rights and the ability to make medical decisions for a partner. Overall, civil union laws exist in a few states in the United States. However, North Carolina does not recognize civil unions as of yet. Those in the state who wish to formalize their relationships still have the option of entering into a domestic partnership or marriage.
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