Same-sex couples in Illinois now have an easier way to prove their civil union.
Cook County Clerk David Orr unveiled wallet-sized civil union and marriage licenses Thursday, designed specifically for same-sex couples in a civil union or married couples with different last names.
“Couples are routinely asked to prove they are married or in a civil union, whether it’s at the bank, the gym, the hospital, or the car rental counter,” Orr said in a statement. “This will help couples who want a handy certificate to carry when they travel or need documentation of their marriage or civil union. Our wallet certificate means you always have proof in your pocket.”
For $15, couples can purchase a set of two wallet-sized certificates with their names and license numbers bearing Orr’s signature and embossed with the Cook County seal.
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The certificates are available at any of the Cook County Clerk’s Bureau of Vital Records locations, with same day availability at the Loop location at 50 W. Washington St.
In addition, Orr said that while the smaller certificates have only been available for a short time, they are already in high demand.
Over 3,021 civil unions have been issued in Cook County, according to a recent survey conducted by The Civil Rights Agenda, a Chicag0-based LGBT rights and advocacy group.
