A civil union is a legally recognized relationship between members of a same-sex couple, with rights similar to those of a marriage relationship.
In Colorado, civil unions are legally recognized relationships available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, offering many of the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities that are granted to married couples. The Colorado Civil Union Act came into effect on May 1, 2013, allowing couples to enter into civil unions. This law provides qualifying couples with protections related to property rights, spousal support, parental rights, inheritance, and the ability to make medical decisions for one another, among other rights. It's important to note that since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage has been recognized as a constitutional right across the United States, including in Colorado. Therefore, same-sex couples in Colorado can choose to either marry or enter into a civil union, with both types of relationships offering similar state-level legal recognitions and protections.