Civil Union Fact Sheet

A civil union is a legal union between two people of the same sex which grants the parties all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under state law, whether derived from the general statues, administrative regulations or court rules, policy, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage.

The civil union law goes into effect on October 1, 2005. No civil union license may be applied for or issued prior to this date.

There is no residency requirement for Connecticut Civil Unions.

• To be eligible to enter into a civil union, a person must be:
• Over 18 or an emancipated minor;
• Of the same sex as the other party to the civil union;
• Not a party to another civil union or marriage;
• Not the parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, neice or nephew of the other party to the civil union; and
• Not under the supervision of a conservator, unless written consent is provided by the conservator.

Persons who are already joined in a Vermont civil union or California domestic partnership may not enter into a Connecticut civil union since they are already joined in a relationship which is legally recognized in Connecticut.

Persons who are already joined in a Massachusetts same-sex marriage are eligible to enter into a Connecticut civil union, since the same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Connecticut.

Any person eligible to officiate a marriage ceremony in this state is granted the authority to perform a civil union ceremony. The law expressly states that any authorized person who refuses for any reason to join persons in a civil union is not subject to any fine or penalty.

Application and issuance procedures for civil union certificates are the same as those applying for an issuing marriage licenses.

Registration and filing procedures for civil union certificates are the same as those established for registering and filing marriage certificates.

A civil union is dissolved through a court proceeding similar to a dissolution of a marriage.

The fee for a civil union licenses is $30. The fee for a certified copy of a civil union certificate is $10.

New Town Clerk office hours as of July 7, 2008:

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