United States:
- Connecticut: As of October 1, 2005, gays and lesbians are able to enter into Civil Unions in Connecticut. Civil Unions will give gay and lesbian couples many of the same rights and responsibilities of marriage. Civil Unions are only available to same-sex couples.
- In Vermont you can get a Civil Union. In 2000, Vermont legislature passed and Governor Howard Dean signed a law creating civil unions for same-sex couples, giving these couples all the rights and benefits of marriage under Vermont law but not marriage licenses.
- New Jersey: On December 14, 2006 the New jersey legislature approved a bill allowing same-sex civil unions. Civil Unions became available in New Jersey in February 2007.
- California: Gay and lesbian couples can register as domestic partners in California. Couples who register are eligible for many of the same state rights as heterosexual married couples, but only in the state of California. The rights of civil unions do not transfer from state to state like marriage does.
- Hawaii offers reciprocal beneficiary rights to same-sex couples. Some of the rights granted are: inheritance without a will, ability to sue for the wrongful death, hospital visitation and health care decisions.
- Maine instituted a domestic partner registry in 2004. Maine's law mostly benefits couples if one dies: inheritance without a will, the right to make funeral arrangements and the ability to be named guardian if partner becomes incapacitated.
- Washington State offers some of the rights of marriage via domestic partnerships. The law takes effect July 22, 2007.
- New Hampshire offers civil unions to gays and lesbians beginning January 2008.
Oregon passed a domestic partnership law, but groups opposing it are attempting to collect signatures to put the issue up for a vote on the January 2008 ballot.
Europe
- Finland offers civil unions in which same-sex couples have similar rights to marriage, such as joint custody of children and immigration rights.
- France has a Civil Solidarity Pact which grants same or opposite sex partners rights of next of kin, inheritance, social security, and tax benefits.
- Iceland has allowed civil unions since 1996. Same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexuals in adoption, parenting and assisted insemination treatment. No member of the parliament voted against the proposal. The law came into effect on June 27, 2006.
- Norway allows registered partnerships and grants the virtually all the protections, responsibilities and benefits as marriage.
- Portugal grants partnership rights to same and opposite sex couples. Partnership rights include next of kin, inheritance, property, social security and tax benefits.
- Denmark has registered partnerships for same sex couples. They are granted all the same rights as marriage.
- In Sweden civil unions have been allowed since 1995. Registered gay and lesbian couples receive many of the same rights as married heterosexual couples and are allowed to adopt children.
- Germany recognizes next of kin and property inheritance rights for same sex couples who register as partners.
- United Kingdom. Since December 2005 gays and lesbians in the United Kingdom have been eligible to register for Civil Partnerships. Gay and lesbian couples who register will receive some of the same rights as married couples, including accident compensation, life insurance, immigration, inheritance, spouse and child support and workplace benefits.
- Switzerland offers registered partnership with some of the benefits of marriage, but NOT adoption rights or the right to fertility treatments.
Elsewhere
- Israel. In December 2004, Israel announced it will give limited rights to same-sex couples.
The attorney general has directed government offices to now recognize same-sex couples for monetary and property issues.
The decision reverses a legal opinion that gay and lesbian couples cannot be sanctioned under Israeli law.
- New Zealand. As of December 2004, gay and lesbian couples will be able to register their unions in New Zealand and receive many of the same rights as heterosexual married couples. The law allows couples to have a ceremony and the right to claim next-of-kin status when a partner dies and have control over a partner's medical treatment.
