Legal Definitions - reciprocal beneficiaries

Reciprocal Beneficiaries is a legal status in Hawaii that gives two people certain rights and benefits that are similar to those of married couples. This status is available to couples who cannot legally get married in the state of Hawaii.

For two people to become reciprocal beneficiaries, they must meet the following requirements:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years old
• Neither party can be married, in another reciprocal beneficiaryrelationship, or in a civil union
• The parties must be legally prohibited from marrying each other
• Consent to the relationship must not be obtained by force, duress, or fraud
• Both parties must sign a declaration of reciprocal beneficiary relationship

Reciprocal beneficiaries have several rights and benefits, including:

• Hospital visitation rights
• The right to make medical decisions for each other
• The right to inherit from each other in the absence of a will
• Rights to sue for wrongful death

Reciprocal beneficiaries can be of the same or opposite sex and can be related. They do not have to be in an intimate relationship.

An example of a couple who might become reciprocal beneficiaries is a widowed mother and her unmarried son. They have a significant personal, emotional, and economic relationship, but they cannot legally get married.

Another example might be two friends who have lived together for many years and want to ensure that they have certain legal rights and benefits.

These examples illustrate how reciprocal beneficiaries can provide legal recognition and protection for relationships that are important to individuals but cannot be legally recognized as marriages.