Lake County is now issuing civil union licenses to same-sex couples who travel from states that do not recognize the unions. The prior Lake County policy enforced by employees did not permit Lake County to issue a Civil Union Certificate if the couple’s home prohibited such unions. However, the couple in question were from Indiana, which does not prohibit Civil Unions, but rather does not recognize them.
Other Illinois counties have issued Civil Union licenses to Indiana couples. The couple denied by Lake County were issued a license by Cook County the next day.
Lake County Clerk confirmed their policy of rejecting applications from states that did not recognize the Civil Unions. But the Clerk also explained that the rule was similar to other County policies because Lake County borders Wisconsin.
For example, Wisconsin does not allow remarriage within six months after a divorce, and Lake County denied Wisconsin residents marriage licenses if the rule was violated.
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