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Considerations for Participants of Civil Unions
(IRN)-With civil unions on the way in Illinois, there are some legal considerations that couples considering them should know.

The governor has promised to sign civil union legislation into law, allowing couples, including same-sex couples, to get the legal protection of marriage. But Camilla Taylor, senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal, says civil unions performed in Illinois will not be recognized in most other states. Therefore, couples in civil unions who travel and who, for example, want their relationship with their children to be recognized, must still draw up legal papers to assure that it will be, Taylor says.

However, same-sex couples who are married in states and countries that allow same-sex marriage are automatically given civil union status in Illinois under the civil union bill, which if the governor signs it will take effect July 1, 2011.

One of the benefits that same-sex couples will gain under Illinois' civil union legislation is one widely used by married couples: Divorce, though Taylor says it probably won't be called divorce, but rather something like civil union dissolution. She says the courts have handled divorces for married couples for ages, and same-sex couples in civil unions will have access to the courts to dissolve their relationships, divide property and handle issues related to child custody, visitation and support.

(Source: Illinois Radio Network)
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