{"id":351800,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/domestic-partnerships\/which-states-have-civil-unions.html"},"modified":"2023-05-29T10:10:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-29T15:10:00","slug":"which-states-have-civil-unions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-partnerships\/which-states-have-civil-unions.html","title":{"rendered":"Which States Have Civil Unions?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Which States Have Civil Unions?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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A civil union is a legal relationship between two people that provides some protection to the couple. Before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, a civil union was the only choice for same-sex couples desiring marriage. Since, then most states stopped offering civil unions.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Civil unions were mostly phased out in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision. This decision legalized same-sex marriage<\/a> nationwide. The Respect for Marriage Act<\/a> was also passed by Congress in 2022. Before this ruling, civil unions<\/a> were introduced specifically for same-sex couples. The law denied the institution to these couples who wanted to get married.
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Most states have stopped providing civil unions. Or they have automatically converted existing civil unions to marriages. However, civil unions are still offered in a few states. The following is a summary of the history of civil unions and which states still make them available.<\/p>\r\n

Civil Unions and Same-Sex Marriage: Judicial History<\/h2>\r\n

Vermont created the first civil union law<\/a> in 2000. This came after the Vermont Supreme Court’s Baker v. State<\/i><\/a> decision. This decision held that same-sex couples must have the same benefits and protections as opposite-sex couples. At the time, it was a radical political move to allow same-sex couples the right to join a civil union. In just a few years, however, more and more states began to allow the practice. But they also went even further by legalizing same-sex marriage. Currently, civil unions are not available in Vermont<\/a>, as same-sex couples are now permitted to marry. However, any civil union established prior to September 1, 2009 is still recognized.<\/p>\r\n

Same-sex union laws changed frequently before the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges<\/i><\/a> ruling. Before that, the Supreme Court’s landmark U.S. v. Windsor<\/i><\/a> decision in 2013 held that those in a same-sex marriage are entitled to federal benefits. This overturned key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). However, this ruling had no effect on couples in a civil union.<\/p>\r\n

Although the terms have sometimes been interchanged, civil unions should not be confused with domestic partnerships. Civil unions provide all the state benefits of marriage. Domestic partnerships<\/a> have typically been more limited. They are not as targeted to same-sex couples.<\/p>\r\n

States That Currently Have Civil Unions<\/h2>\r\n

The list of states that allow civil unions (as distinct from marriage) stands at four:<\/p>\r\n