To apply for a civil union license, both partners must meet all state requirements regarding age, single status, gender and--in some states--residency. Learn what you'll need to bring when you apply for civil partnership status.
When you visit your Town Clerk to apply for a civil union license, bring all necessary documentation with you; if you fail to do so, your application may be delayed. Check with the Town Clerk's office to confirm what you need. Most jurisdictions require the following:
If you or your partner was born or married outside of the United States, you'll have other important issues to consider when applying for a civil union license. You must dissolve any legal marriage or civil partnership that occurred outside of the United States before entering into a civil union with another partner, and you must provide documentation of that dissolution. Any documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Foreign-nationals entering into a civil union with a U.S. citizen should be aware that the U.S. Federal government doesn't recognize civil unions and therefore, doesn't grant immigration benefits based upon the civil partnership. This could create significant problems for the couple if the foreign-national's country doesn't authorize civil partnerships, either.
Many states have a waiting period between obtaining a civil union license and entering into the civil partnership; a civil union license also has an expiration date. If you fail to hold your civil partnership ceremony within the allotted time period, you'll need to apply for a new civil union license and pay the application fee again.