Woodridge Couple Among First to Get Civil Union License in DuPage

A Woodridge couple was one of the first to apply for a civil union license at the DuPage County Clerk's Office Wednesday morning. 

Wednesday is the first day same-sex and heterosexual couples can obtain a civil union license from the DuPage County Clerk's office.

Eighteen couples applied for a civil union license on June 1.

"We had twice as many [couples come in] in the afternoon as this morning, which is normally the way it goes," said DuPage Chief Deputy Clerk Paul Hinds. "Both parties have to be here in person, so people will take a half day off."

Between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., four couples applied for the county's license, including:

1) Barb McMillan and Roseann Szalkowski from Roselle.

2) Julie Screnock and Abby Siakpere from Glendale Heights.

3) Katilynn Kyriak and Yvette Lopez from Woodridge.

4) Kelly Lambert and Jennifer Soule from Elmhurst.

For the past eight years, McMillan and Szalkowski have stopped into the DuPage County Clerk's office every Valentine's Day to ask for a marriage license. Every year they were denied, because it was against Illinois state law.

Wednesday they got a license, for a civil union.

"They  were the first couple in line today," Hinds said. "We've kind of gotten to know them over the years. They've been together, stayed together and were always looking for something to make it official ... Today we were able to kind of grant their wish."

Hinds said that McMillan and Szalkowski plan to hold their ceremony  June 17 at the DuPage County Courthouse.

The following are the instructions and requirements to obtain such a license from the county's website: 

WHEN TO APPLY:

A civil union license is issued immediately and becomes effective 24 hours later.  The license is valid for 60 days.  A license issued in DuPage County cannot be used in any other county or state.

HOW TO APPLY:
Both partners must appear at the DuPage County Clerk’s office, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, and present proof of age and proper identification and a license fee of $35.

The fee of $35 can be paid in cash, check or by credit card for a $1 fee.

REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION:

Identification and proof of age are required of all persons. Any of the following documents will be accepted:

• A valid U.S. driver’s license.
• A valid U.S. state identification card.
• A valid U.S. passport.
• A valid U.S. military identification card.

If you do not have any of the above forms of identification, then you must present two of the following pieces of identification:

• A certified copy of a birth certificate.
• A baptismal record (the date of birth of the applicant must appear on this record).
• A valid foreign passport.
• U.S. naturalization papers.
• A valid U.S. resident alien card.
• A life insurance policy, which has been in effect for one year (the applicant’s date of birth must appear on the document).
• All consulate identification cards. Affidavits are not acceptable.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Both partners must by 18 years of age in order to obtain a license.

Applicants 18 years of age must present a certified copy of their birth certificate.

Individuals who reside outside of Illinois will be required to sign an affidavit that the state they reside in does not prohibit a civil union.

PREVIOUS MARRIAGES OR CIVIL UNION:

We must know how a previous marriage or civil union ended, including the month, date and year, county and state in which it ended.  If a prior marriage or civil union has ended within the last six months, you must provide a certified copy (a photocopy is not sufficient) of the death record, dissolution or annulment decree.

PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING INTO A CIVIL UNION:

Anyone under the age of 18.

Anyone who's previous marriage or civil union is not dissolved.

An ancestor and a descendent or between siblings whether the relationship is by the half or whole blood or by adoption; an aunt or uncle and a niece or nephew, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood, or by adoption; or between first cousins.

A person who resides, and intends to continue to reside, in another state where that person is prohibited from entering into a civil union or substantially similar legal relationship by the laws of the jurisdiction where he or she resides.