What Are the Current Laws Related to Civil Unions?
Connecticut’s civil union laws were enacted on October 1, 2005, allowing same sex couples to enter into a legal union which provided the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under state law as those granted by marriage. Following the legalization of same sex marriage in Connecticut, the civil union laws were repealed on October 1, 2010. As of that date, couples can no longer enter into civil unions in Connecticut and all existing civil unions have converted to marriage, unless proceedings for dissolution, annulment or legal separation had been initiated prior to October 1, 2010.
Individuals who request a copy of a civil union certificate for a ceremony performed between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2010, will receive a certified copy that contains the following conversion statement:
“The persons named on this certificate entered into a civil union on the date recorded. In accordance with C.G.S. §46B-38rr, all civil unions converted to marriages on October 1, 2010, except those that were dissolved, or had dissolution, annulment or legal separation proceedings pending on October 1, 2010.”
In the alternative, the parties to the civil union can request that the civil union certificate be converted to a marriage certificate.
How Do I Convert a Civil Union Certificate to a Marriage Certificate?
Only the parties to the civil union may request that the civil union certificate be converted to a marriage certificate. The civil union must have been in effect on October 1, 2010. A civil union that was dissolved or in the process of dissolution on October 1, 2010, does not convert to marriage.
In order to convert the civil union certificate to a marriage certificate, at least one of the parties to the civil union must affirm that the civil union was not dissolved, nor pending dissolution, on October 1, 2010. Complete the
Conversion Request Form and submit it to the vital records office of the town where the civil union took place.
