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 “Unions in the Park” celebration, with more than 30 same-sex couples in attendance. Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel took part in the festivities, and Mayor Emanuel even officiated the union of one of his top staffers.
The widespread response in the first two days after the bill took effect is indicative of things to come. With so many couples applying for licenses in just two days, we can expect many more to enter into civil unions in the months and years ahead. As this new venue for a legal relationship opens to gay and lesbian couples, along with its corresponding privileges and legal intricacies, it will be interesting to see how family law doctrines respond and evolve.
Michael C. Craven is a well-known divorce attorney in Chicago, CPA and a partner of the law firm, Beermann Swerdlove LLP located in the Chicago area. He is highly respected among other divorce attorneys, judges and his clients. He also holds a Master of Tax Law Degree (LLM). For more information about his services, contact Michael at mccraven@beermannlaw.com or at Divorce Lawyers Chicago
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