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 the state of New York, civil unions are not specifically recognized as they are in some other states. Instead, New York legally recognizes same-sex marriage, providing same-sex couples with the same rights, responsibilities, and benefits as opposite-sex married couples. The Marriage Equality Act, which was passed in 2011, allows same-sex couples to marry legally in New York. This means that same-sex couples who are married enjoy all the state-level legal benefits of marriage, such as inheritance rights, spousal support, and the ability to make medical decisions for each other. For couples who are in a civil union from another state, New York generally recognizes these relationships as if they were marriages, provided they were valid in the state where they were established.