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There are various definitions of civil unions.
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| The nature of the civil union and the parties upon whom it may be conferred, depend on the specific legislation of the countries or cities/ states of certain countries that have enacted such legislation. |
Primarily a civil union is defined as a relationship, that has been
recognised by law as giving the parties of the relationship, certain
benefits, protections and responsibilities, usually similar or the same
as those conferred on people who marry.
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| In some countries, civil unions are only open to same-sex couples, in others to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples. |
| Definitions of 'civil union' on the web |
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Commitment made by two persons who consent to live together. The civil union is contracted openly before a competent celebrant and is witnessed through a civil union act.
Reference: www.afe.gouv.qc.ca/en/lexique/index.asp. |
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(n) civil union (a voluntary union for life (or until divorce) of adult parties of the same sex) "parties to a civil union have all the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities under Vermont law as spouses in a marriage"
Reference: http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=civil%20union
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A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples with rights, benefits, and responsibilities similar (in some countries, identical) to opposite-sex civil marriage.
In some jurisdictions, such as Quebec, New Zealand, and Uruguay, civil unions are also open to opposite-sex couples.
Most civil-union countries recognize foreign unions if those are essentially equivalent to their own; for example, the United Kingdom lists equivalent unions in Civil Partnership Act Schedule 20.
Many people are critical of civil unions because they say they represent separate status unequal to marriage ("marriage apartheid"). Others are critical because they say civil unions allow same-sex marriage by using a different name.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union
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