Changes

==Civil marriage==

==Civil marriage==

Civil marriage is a legal [[contract]].  In the state constitutions of almost all states, this contract must be between one man and one woman.  It gives each member certain rights and obligations.  Most commonly, these include [[power of attorney]], [[inheritance]] rights, and rights in relation to any children they may have.

Civil marriage is a legal [[contract]].  In the state constitutions of almost all states, this contract must be between one man and one woman.  It gives each member certain rights and obligations.  Most commonly, these include [[power of attorney]], [[inheritance]] rights, sharing finances, and rights in relation to any children they may have. With the advent of no-fault divorce, most of these rights and obligations can be terminated by either party at any time for any reason.

The Scandinavian nations and the UK allow same-sex couples to gain benefits by registering a legal commitment, although they acquire fewer advantages than opposite-gender couples receive automatically upon marriage.  

The Scandinavian nations and the UK allow same-sex couples to gain benefits by registering a legal commitment, although they acquire fewer advantages than opposite-gender couples receive automatically upon marriage.  

In the U.S. there are over a thousand federal benefits to marriage but none to same-sex civil partnerships. Couples registering same-sex relationships receive some state benefits in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Vermont. Rights accruing from same-sex marriages contracted in other states are respected in Rhode Island, and some restricted benefits are available to same-sex partners in Hawaii and Maine.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm]</ref>

In the U.S. there are over a thousand federal benefits to marriage but none to same-sex civil partnerships. Couples registering same-sex relationships receive some state benefits in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. Rights accruing from same-sex marriages contracted in other states are respected in Rhode Island, and some restricted benefits are available to same-sex partners in Hawaii and Maine.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marr.htm]</ref>

==References==

==References==

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