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 South Carolina, civil unions are not legally recognized. The state adheres to the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, as stated in the state's constitution. However, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, same-sex marriages are recognized and have the same legal rights as opposite-sex marriages throughout the United States, including in South Carolina. This means that while civil unions per se are not recognized, same-sex couples can legally marry and enjoy all the rights and responsibilities that come with marriage under both federal and state law in South Carolina.