A new law, effective January 1, 2008, has been passed in New Hampshire to allow same-sex couples to be recognized in civil unions making N.H. the fifth U.S. state to legally acknowledge these unions.

The same-sex civil union affords couples many of the same rights and respects given in heterosexual marriages. Other states that have passed this law include California, Connecticut, New Jersey and Vermont. While other states allow this legal union, N.H. is the first to have passed the law purely through legislative action and without a court mandate or the threat of judicial action.

Domestic partnerships, which are similar and offer many of the same benefits as marriage or civil unions, are currently recognized in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and Washington D.C.

Massachusetts is currently the only state to have legalized same-sex marriages.