Civil unions take effect Wednesday

Civil unions take effect Wednesday

Olney, Ill. —
Civil unions will become legal in Illinois starting Wednesday and county clerks will be required to sell licenses to same-###### couples.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the legislation in January. Both straight and homo######ual couples will be able to receive the official document.

Richland County Clerk Alice Mullinax said the office will be charging $40, the same as a marriage license and that a resolution is needed to indicate that the office is selling the licenses and charging for a service that has not been offered before. She said the law does not mention anything about fees and that one needed to be set.

On May 12, Richland County Board denied a motion to establish a $40 fee for civil-union licenses. Mullinax checked with the state's attorney's office to make sure her office could issue civil-union licenses for the same cost as marriage licenses.

She said she plans to present another resolution to the board when it meets again June 9. In the meantime, the office will be offering civil-union licenses.

“If someone comes in for a civil-union license,bjd dolls, I am going to follow the law,” Mullinax said.

Certified copies of civil-union licenses would be the same as they are for marriage licenses. Those prices are $15 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy that is purchased at the same time.

Mullinax said she does not anticipate a large influx of couples seeking civil-union licenses.

“Everyone will be treated with the same respect as any other customer would receive. We will follow the law whether we agree with it or not,” she said.