Civil Union Law Effective 6-1-2011

 

Civil Union Law

On February 1, 2011, Governor Quinn signed the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, Public Act 096-1513, into law. Effective June 1, 2011, two persons of either the same or opposite gender may enter into a legal relationship referred to as a civil union. Parties to the civil union have the same obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits afforded by Illinois law to married couple.

As a result of this law all pension benefits previously made available from this fund to a married member and his or her spouse, are now benefits that are available to parties of a civil union.  References to spouse and widow in the Fund's literature and forms will now also apply to civil union partner. Fund publications will be reprinted as needed and this change will be included in publications and information printed going forward.

Some important notes:

 

• The member is responsible for providing the Fund with proof of the civil union. We require an original copy of the civil union certificate. Once Fund staff makes a copy, the original document will be returned to the member.

 

• A domestic partner is not necessarily a civil union partner. A certificate of the civil union must be provided.

 

• The civil union partner is eligible for the same benefits as a spouse. This includes retiree medical for the civil union partner and survivor annuity. However, just as with a marriage, the civil union had to take place before retirement or death, which ever occurred first, in order for the civil union partner to be eligible for a survivor annuity.

 

• Many general civil union questions are addressed here: http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/civilunion_faq.htm

 

• Same-sex marriages solemnized in other states (Iowa, New Hampshire) are recognized as a civil union in Illinois without additional documentation. However, the Fund will need to see an original marriage certificate from the marriage which took place out of state. All original documents will be returned to the member.

 

• Any dissolution of a civil union must be documented with an order for dissolution of a civil union, similar to a divorce decree.

 

If you have any questions about how a civil union may affect benefits paid from this fund, please contact our office.