"I 'm confused . What exactly is the difference between a civil union and a marriage . From what I have found , they are identical with the exception of one is religious and the other secular . Is there a larger legal difference ?"
"There is a pretty huge difference . Civil unions are n't nationally recognized , for one thing , since not every state has them . If you travel to a state that does not offer civil unions , then your union is not valid there . I think there 's a problem with dissolving those unions as well . The big difference , though , are the rights that these unions provide . There are over 1,000 legal protections and rights that marriage provides that civil unions do n't . I 'll try and find a list of differences ."
"I 'm confused . What exactly is the difference between a civil union and a marriage"
"There is a pretty huge difference . Civil unions are n't nationally recognized , for one thing , since not every state has them ."