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The American state of New Jersey offers Domestic partnerships for same-sex couples 18 years of age or older and opposite-sex partners 62 years of age or older [1]. The present law was passed by the state legislature and signed by then-governor James McGreevey in July 2004. Once a couple has obtained a domestic partnership, they may, among other things, claim joint tax status for state taxation purposes and are granted full hospital visitation rights and the right to make medical decisions for a partner if he or she is unable to do so. Under the law, insurance companies are also obligated to offer coverage to domestic partners on the same terms as to heterosexual spouses. In addition, New Jersey recognizes similar unions legally performed in other jurisdictions. On October 25, 2006, the Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled that under the New Jersey state constitution, gay couples have the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples. However, the court punted the question of what to call such legal status to the state legislature, which has 180 days (From October 25th) to figure out whether gay couples will be allowed to marry or if they will have to settle for forming civil unions
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