civil partnership

A civil partnership is a legal recognition of a committed, marriage-like relationship between two individuals. This registration typically grants couples legal benefits similar to those of marriage, such as inheritance rights, hospital visitation, medical decision-making, and employee benefits.1

Jurisdictions vary on who can enter a civil partnership; some offer it only to same-sex couples, while others extend it to both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Terms like "civil union," "domestic partnership," and "registered partnership" are often used interchangeably but can have distinct legal meanings depending on the location. Historically, domestic partnerships often referred to heterosexual couples living together without marrying, but the term evolved to include same-sex couples who were legally prevented from marrying. The UK, for instance, introduced a Civil Partnership Bill in 2004 to grant legal recognition and rights to same-sex couples.123