Posts Categorized: Civil Unions

Divorce as Process

Divorce is a Process The decision to divorce isn’t usually made easily or in haste. Among the many issues to consider are financial, social and psychological ones. Whenever children or illnesses are involved, the decision is even more difficult. But, for many people, divorce may be more of a years-long process than a single decision.   When infidelity puts the private lives of public figures and celebrities in the news, we can sometimes glimpse the stages of this process. For example, on...   Read more ...  

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Same Sex Divorce in Illinois

Same-sex divorce The historic day that Illinois’ civil union bill took effect this past June; a slightly less well-known bit of history took place. A same sex Illinois couple, previously married in Quebec, filed for Illinois’ same sex divorce. With the passage of the law, same sex couples were afforded not only the right to enter into civil unions, but also the right to legally dissolve their relationships. Perhaps it’s not as glamorous a right as some that same sex couples no...   Read more ...  

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Civil Union Bill Takes Effect In Illinois

Civil Unions in Illinois The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act took effect yesterday, making Illinois the sixth state to allow same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into civil unions. The response was overwhelming.   Couples lined up at the Cook County Clerk’s office late Tuesday evening to be among the first to tie the knot. By the close of the day, Cook County had issued over 200 civil union licenses! This morning, June 2, 2011, the city of Chicago held a â...   Read more ...  

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STATE OF THE CIVIL UNION IN ILLINOIS

Civil Unions in Illinois The primary purpose of Illinois’ civil union law is to give same-sex couples the same rights and benefits allowed to heterosexual couples. Interestingly, Illinois’ law allows heterosexual couples the option of a civil union over marriage. Thus couples in marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships are all treated equally under Illinois law. This equality, however, does not necessarily extend outside the state, because of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (“...   Read more ...  

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Joint Tax Filing for Illinois Civil Unions

Same-sex couples and filing taxes As more and more states are joining the civil union bandwagon, including Delaware and Hawaii, we’re beginning to see some of the perks of the new domestic partnership status here in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Revenue has recently confirmed that couples in civil unions will be able to jointly file their taxes in 2012. Although the state’s Civil Union bill took effect last June, it has remained unclear whether couples in civil unions would be able ...   Read more ...  

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Civil Union Bill Signed in Illinois

Civil Unions in Illinois In a historic moment, yesterday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, signed the civil union bill which allows same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples.  While Illinois is the sixth state to recognize civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex partners, it still does not allow gay marriages, as do five other states, including neighboring Iowa, and Washington DC.   The law takes effect on June 1, 2011.  Some of the key protections relat...   Read more ...  

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