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Domestic Partners and Parties to a Civil Union; Definitions and Applicability of Terms

Section 4-17

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  • Domestic Partner Definition. The term domestic partner(s), as referred to in Board Rules and Policies, shall mean individuals who (1) are at least 18 years of age; (2) are of the same sex; (3) are unmarried (single, divorced or widowed) and not a party to a civil union; (3) are each other’s sole partner; (4) are responsible for each other’s common welfare; (5) are residing in the same residence; (6) are not related by blood closer than would bar marriage in the State of Illinois; and (7) satisfy two of the following additional requirements: (i) have been residing together for at least 12 months; (ii) have common or joint ownership of a residence; (iii) jointly own a motor vehicle, credit account, checking account, or residential lease; or (iv) one or both have declared the other as the primary beneficiary on his or her will.
  • Civil Union Definition. The term civil union means a legal relationship between two persons of either the same or opposite sex established pursuant to the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (P.A. 096-1513, effective June 1, 2011), referred to herein as the “Illinois Civil Union Act”. Under the Illinois Civil Union Act, a marriage between persons of the same sex, a civil union, or a substantially similar legal relationship other than common law marriage, legally entered into in another jurisdiction, shall be recognized in Illinois as a civil union.
  • Party To A Civil Union Definition. A party to a civil union means a person who has established a civil union as defined in section b. of Board Rule 4-17.
  • Applicability of Terms to Board Rules and Policies. A party to a civil union and a domestic partner shall be considered included in any definition or use of the terms “spouse”, “family”, “immediate family”, “dependent”, “next of kin”, “in-law”, “married”, “relative” and other related terms that denote the spousal relationship or affiliation as those terms are used throughout Board Rules and Policies.

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