civil union
A civil union is a marriage-like relationship, created primarily to provide recognition in law for same-sex couples. It is a legal relationship between two people that tends to provide legal protection to the couple at the state level. If a couple is in a civil union, they may receive inheritance rights, employment benefits, property rights, parental rights, among other benefits.
Vermont was the first state in the U.S. to recognize civil unions. The state supreme court ruled in Baker v. State of Vermont, 170 Vt. 194 (1999), that the state had to extend to same-sex couples the common benefits and protections granted to those who marry under Vermont law. The state of Vermont then passed legislation creating the opportunity for same-sex couples to obtain a “civil union” license.
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644, that same-sex marriage is legal in the United States, and each state must recognize a same-sex marriage performed in other states. Considering this U.S. Supreme Court decision, civil unions may become less common.
[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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