A civil partnership is a legal relationship between two people that provides similar rights and responsibilities to marriage. It was introduced to offer legal recognition to same-sex couples, allowing them to enjoy benefits such as inheritance rights, tax advantages, and access to family health care. Civil partnerships can be dissolved through a legal process similar to divorce. While they were initially created for same-sex couples, many countries now allow opposite-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships as well, providing an alternative to traditional marriage for those who prefer it.