Illinois marriage law allows easy conversion of civil unions

Chicago (AP) — Cook County Clerk David Orr says 120 same-sex couples converted civil unions to marriages Monday as a new state law took effect.

The same law allowing gay marriage also allows same-sex couples to easily convert civil unions into marriages.

Couples with civil unions can get a $65 marriage license free of charge at any Cook County clerk's offices until May 31, 2015.

The couple's date of marriage will be backdated to their date of civil union. Both partners need to appear at a county clerk's office to make the change. Couples must have the conversion done in the county where they received their civil union.

Orr's office says a Chicago couple — Darren Grogan and William Brannin — were first in line to convert their civil union to a marriage.

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The Gayly – June 3, 2014 @ 9:30am