Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Employment Law StrategistKickerFeaturesTopicsRegulationSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

Illinois' Civil Union Act

By Belinda S. Morgan

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (the Civil Union Act or the Act) went into effect on June 1, 2011. The Civil Union Act permits both same-gender and different-gender couples to enter into Illinois civil unions. The Act also recognizes as Illinois civil unions same-gender marriages, civil unions, and other similar legal relationships entered into in other states. Illinois is now one of 22 jurisdictions in the United States that extend some form of state-level spousal rights to same-gender couples. Given that the Act has been in effect for over six months, this article provides a review of the Act's provisions and its impact on employers. If you have not yet reviewed your employee benefits plans to determine how they may be impacted the Act, if at all, now is the time to do so.

The Civil Union Act gives individuals entering into civil unions most of the same protections, obligations, responsibilities, and benefits afforded to different-gender spouses under Illinois law. Because these rights and protections extend to certain employee benefit plans and policies, Illinois employers need to understand how the Civil Union Act will affect their plans' operations.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.