How Do I Dissolve a Civil Union?VermontIf you are a same-sex couple with a Vermont civil union, you may dissolve it through the Vermont family court in a process that is essentially the same as a divorce. Vermont law provides that the dissolution of civil unions follows the same procedures and is subject to the same substantive rights and obligations that are involved in the dissolution of marriages. Like divorce in Vermont, dissolution of a civil union has residency requirements. In order for a court to dissolve a civil union, one of the parties must have lived in Vermont for a period of one year.
Connecticut
The dissolution of a Connecticut civil union is exactly the same as a divorce in Connecticut. However, Connecticut has strict residency requirements for the dissolution of a civil union. In order to dissolve a civil union in Connecticut one party must have been a Connecticut resident for at least one year; or one party must have been a Connecticut resident at the time of the civil union and now has returned to Connecticut with an intention, before filing the complaint, of permanently remaining in Connecticut; or the cause for dissolution arose after either party moved into Connecticut.
What About Other States?There are no residency requirements in order to obtain a civil union in Connecticut or Vermont. As a result, many non-residents have Vermont and Connecticut civil unions. Because most states do not recognize civil unions, they cannot legally dissolve them. This makes it nearly impossible for a same-sex couple to get a civil union dissolved, unless they can meet the residency requirements of the state in which they obtained it.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Dissolve my Civil Union?Because the dissolution of a civil union is treated the same as a divorce, you should contact a divorce attorney to guide you through the process. An experienced attorney can be especially useful as the dissolution of civil unions is a new and evolving legal field. If you are a same-sex couple who wish to dissolve a Vermont or Connecticut civil union but do not meet the residency requirements to do so, you should contact a divorce attorney who will be able to advise you of any other options that may be available to you.
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