DuPage County Begins Issuing Civil Union Licenses

Today county clerk offices across Illinois will offer civil union licenses.

On Jan. 31, Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, which recognizes same-sex unions. With the new legislation, Illinois became the sixth state to allow civil unions.

Civil union licenses are available for same-sex and heterosexual couples at least 18 years of age.

Couples can visit the Wheaton office to obtain a license. They must have a valid, current form of identification, such as a driver's license, state ID or United States passport.

A $35 license application fee will be charged. The license is issued immediately and is effective 24 hours later. 

By law, couples must wait until the day after they obtain their license to have their civil union ceremony performed, so June 2 is the first day ceremonies may be held. A license is valid for 60 days following the issue date.

In celebration of the first day of civil union ceremonies, the city of Chicago's Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues will host 30 civil union ceremonies at 10 a.m. in Millennium Park. Gov. Pat Quinn is scheduled to attend.

According to Cook County Clerk David Orr, the benefits of those in a civil union include:

• Health insurance eligibility
• Automatically being considered a parent
• Hospital visitation/health care rights
• State benefits for partners of military veterans
• The right to sue over a partner's death

Unlike marriages, civil unions are not recognized in all states. Those in civil unions cannot file joint federal tax returns, receive Social Security payments upon partner's death, get immigration benefits for partner or inherit partner's property.