Cook County to Issue Civil Union Licenses June 1

County clerk offices across Illinois will open early June 1 to mark the first offering of civil union licenses.

"I'm thrilled this day has finally come," Cook County Clerk David Orr said in a news release. "This will be a joyous day for all couples — gay and straight — who want to make history as part of the inaugural group of civil unions."

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.

The law will go into effect Wednesday, June 1.

To celebrate the occasion, the Cook County Clerk's Vital Records office will open at 7:30 a.m. to issue civil union licenses.

The Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St in downtown Chicago, will open at 6 a.m. Couples should line up outside the Daley Center's northeast door, which is located near Randolph and Dearborn streets. The Vital Records office is in Room CL-27.

The first couple in line will receive a gift package. All other couples in line by 7:30 a.m. will be eligible for a gift raffle, and all couples will be invited to a party room for cake and chocolate, donated by Eli's Cheesecake and Illinois Nut and Candy.

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

Couples are invited to visit the downtown office, not suburban locations, 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. Those currently registered as domestic partners in Cook County will receive a $20 discount.

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 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.