Saturday Hours Planned On October 1 For Civil Union Licenses

By John Voket

She’s not expecting a crush of same sex partners when Town Clerk Cindy Simon holds special Saturday hours October 1, but she is expecting at least one or two couples looking to take immediate advantage of a new law taking effect that day permitting Connecticut municipalities to issue licenses for civil unions.

“I know of one couple who is planning to be here,” Ms Simon told The Bee this week as she issued guidelines for the licenses, as well as announcing a special Saturday session to issue documents to any same sex couple seeking to make their unions legal in the eyes of the state.

According to the town clerk, a civil union is a legal union between two people of the same sex granting both parties all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under state law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage. On that subject, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued an official ruling on Tuesday saying Connecticut will recognize civil unions and domestic partnerships from other states but not same-sex marriages from neighboring Massachusetts when a new law allowing civil unions takes effect here October 1.

According to the attorney general, however, under Connecticut’s soon-to-be-enacted statute, those married, same-sex couples would be able to enter into civil unions in Connecticut.

“Civil unions performed in other states are entitled to full faith and credit in Connecticut, and cannot be repeated here. Out-of-state same-sex marriages have no legal force and effect here,” Mr Blumenthal wrote.

The attorney general issued the opinion to the State Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner J. Robert Galvin. It is the DPH’s Registrar of Vital Records that administers the official civil union and marriage papers in the state, which are issued through city and town.

“This opinion concerns a new, developing area of law — uncharted legal territory in Connecticut,” Mr Blumenthal stated in a release from his office. “Our courts, obviously, will be the ultimate source of answers. After a careful, critical review of our law, I believe that out-of-state same-sex civil unions and certain domestic partnerships must be honored in Connecticut.”

Here in Newtown, Ms Simon said the town clerk’s office will have special office hours on Saturday, October 1, from 9 am to noon, for the sole purpose of issuing civil union licenses. After October 1, civil union licenses will be available during regular office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Ms Simon said on Monday that in order to qualify for the civil union license, the applicant must be 18 years old 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, niece, 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.

“The parties must apply for a civil union license at the vital records or town clerk’s office of the town where the civil union is to take place or at the town of residence of one of the parties,” Ms Simon explained. “The parties should be prepared to provide the demographic information necessary to complete the civil union license, date, sign and swear to the validity of the provided information, and present a valid photographic ID to prove the party’s identity.”

While there is no indication that any same sex couples will have an official on hand to administer ceremonial vows at Edmond Town Hall once and if any civil union licenses are granted October 1, Ms Simon pointed out that officiators who are eligible to perform a marriage ceremony in this state are also granted the authority to perform a civil union ceremony.

“This includes all judges and retired judges, federal judges and judges from other states who may legally join persons in marriage or a civil union, family support magistrates, state referees and justices of the peace, and ordained or licensed members of the clergy who continue in the work of the ministry,” she said.

Once the civil union ceremony is performed, the officiator is responsible for certifying upon the civil union license, the fact, time and place of the civil union, and returning the license to the town clerk of the town where the civil union took place.

Currently, Vermont is the only state outside Connecticut that allows civil unions, and Massachusetts is the only state that allows same-sex marriages. Several states including California, New Jersey, and Maine allow some sort of domestic partnership.

“The cost of a civil union license will be $30,” Ms Simon said. “Anyone with any questions at all should feel free to contact the town clerk’s office at 270-4210.”