civilstatus

Civil status refers to a person’s legal relationship status as recognized by civil law and recorded by the state. It is used in administrative contexts to identify individuals and to determine eligibility for certain rights, benefits, and procedures. Civil status can affect matters such as taxation, inheritance, social security, and access to government services.

Common categories of civil status include single (unmarried), married, in a civil union or registered partnership, separated, divorced, and widowed. Some jurisdictions also recognize civil partnerships or other formalized arrangements. In many places, civil status is distinct from informal relationship arrangements and is specifically tied to legally recognized relationships.

Changes to civil status are usually documented through official records. These can include marriage certificates, civil partnership certificates, divorce decrees, and death certificates. Civil registries or equivalent authorities maintain and update records, and certified copies are often required for legal actions, such as updating identity documents, changing beneficiaries, or settling estates.

The use and terminology of civil status vary by country and language. In some regions it is closely tied to taxation, social insurance, or health care eligibility, while in others it is primarily a demographic or statistical category for population surveys. Privacy and data protection laws govern how civil status information is collected, stored, and shared.

Civil status is related to concepts such as marital status, domestic partnership, and civil union, and may be treated differently in different legal systems.