civil partnership
Recognized domestic bond
A civil partnership is a legally recognized union between two people that grants rights and responsibilities similar to marriage.
The term emerged in the early 2000s, particularly in the UK, as a way to extend legal protections to same-sex couples before marriage equality was established.
Some jurisdictions now offer civil partnerships to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples as an alternative to marriage.
They entered into a civil partnership last spring.
Same status for all
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- adoptionLegal family formation
- tax benefitsAllowed income reductions
- spousal supportPayments to ex-partner
hospital visitation · immigration · pension · property division · healthcare · survivor benefits · power of attorney · child custody
Two linked together
- companionshipState of having company
- togethernessState of close connection
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- cohabitationDwelling together unmarried
domestic · household · pairing · union · bond · connection · duo · significant other
Deep, loyal commitment
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- promiseCommitment to act
vows · pledge · steadfastness · loyalty · sincerity · monogamy · exclusivity · permanence
Formal union between partners
- spouseMarried partner
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- registrationFormal recording of participation
jurisdiction · divorce · dissolution · annulment · cohabitation · statute · solicitor · lawyer
Lawful or rightful status
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
ratification · status · visibility · legal standing · authentication · confirmation · endorsement · approval
equality
Same status for all
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- adoptionLegal family formation
- tax benefitsAllowed income reductions
spousal support · hospital visitation · immigration · pension · property division · healthcare · survivor benefits · power of attorney · child custody · next of kin
couple
Two linked together
- companionshipState of having company
- togethernessState of close connection
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
cohabitation · domestic · household · pairing · union · bond · connection · duo · significant other · betrothed
devotion
Deep, loyal commitment
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
promise · vows · pledge · steadfastness · loyalty · sincerity · monogamy · exclusivity · permanence · lifelong
marriage
Formal union between partners
- spouseMarried partner
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
registration · jurisdiction · divorce · dissolution · annulment · cohabitation · statute · solicitor · lawyer · court
legitimacy
Lawful or rightful status
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- acceptanceConsent to receive
affirmation · ratification · status · visibility · legal standing · authentication · confirmation · endorsement · approval · documentation
- marriagebride, groom, wedding, husband, wife
- family lawchild custody, child support, alimony, family court, divorce petitions
- gay marriagegay marriage, same-sex wedding, marriage equality, equal marriage, domestic partnerships
- legal statuslegal status, legal capacity, personhood, legal entity, legal identity
- inheritanceinheritance, inheritances, heir, heirs, heiress
civil partnershipsingle
One in number
unmarried · unpartnered · bachelorhood · singlehood · divorce
civil partnershiptraditional marriage
Customary male-female union
religious marriage · church wedding · holy matrimony · common-law marriage
civil partnershipcohabitation
Dwelling together unmarried
living together · de facto relationship · domestic arrangement · domestic partnership
civil, partnership, civility, civilian, civilize, civilized, civilization, civics, uncivil