Connecticut State Department of Public Health

 

You may obtain a certified copy of a civil union certificate from the vital records office of the town where the civil union occurred, or from the town(s) where the parties to the civil union resided at the time of the civil union, or from the State Vital Records Office.  

 

Requests sent to the town vital records offices are usually processed faster than those that are sent directly to the State Vital Records Office. To contact the town directly to find out about processing times refer to the Town Vital Records Offices Directory.

 

What Are the Current Laws Related to Civil Unions?

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Who Can Request a Certified Copy of a Civil Union Certificate?
How Do I Request a Civil Union Certificate?

How Much Does a Certified Copy of a Civil Union Certificate Cost?

How Do I Convert a Civil Union Certificate to a Marriage Certificate?

 

Application to Request a Civil Union Certificate

  
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 Following the legalization of same sex marriage in Connecticut, the civil union laws were repealed on October 1, 2010.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.

See Connecticut General Statute section 46b-38rr

 

Who Can Request A Certified Copy Of A Civil Union Certificate?

A certified copy of a Connecticut civil union certificate may be purchased for a fee by anyone who is at least 18 years old.  All information on the civil union certificate is available to the requester, except the parties’ social security numbers. Copies of civil union certificates that include the social security numbers will only be issued to the civil union partners.  If you are requesting a copy of a civil union certificate with the social security numbers on the certificate, you will need to provide proof of identity (e.g. photocopy of driver’s license, passport, etc.)

See Connecticut General Statutes §7-51a.


How Do I Request A Civil Union Certificate?

Complete the Application to Request a Civil Union Certificate and mail it or submit it in person to the vital records office of the town where the civil union occurred or where the civil union partners resided at the time of the civil union, or to the State Vital Records Office, or visit the VitalChek website to submit an expedited order. Note that requests for vital records cannot be made via telephone or email. 

 

Mail Requests

  • Send the application to the town where the civil union occurred, or to the State Vital Records Office, along with proof of identity if requesting a copy with the social security numbers. See the Town Vital Records Offices Directory. Note that mail requests are not eligible for expedited service. If you need expedited processing, refer to the information below.

 

In Person Requests

  • Visit the town vital records office where the civil union occurred or where the civil union partners resided at the time of the civil union, or the State Vital Records Office.

 

Expedited Online Requests

  • Visit the VitalChek website at www.vitalchek.com. Note that VitalChek is the only third party vendor approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

 

 

How Much Does A Certified Copy of A Civil Union Certificate Cost

The fee for a certified copy of a civil union certificate is $20 per copy. Submit a money order for the appropriate amount. Personal checks will not be accepted.

 

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.  (See the Town Vital Records Offices Directory)