Vermont's Civil Union law went into effect July 1st, 2000. This law permits eligible couples of the same sex to be joined in civil union. Parties to a Vermont civil union shall have all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities under Vermont law, whether they derive from statute, policy, administrative or court rule, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted to spouses in a marriage. In order to be joined in civil union the couple must complete the following steps:

1. Apply for a civil union license from the town clerk of the town where either party resides or, if neither is a resident of the state, from any Vermont town clerk. At least one of the parties must sign the license application and pay a $23.00 fee to the town clerk.
   
2. The couple must then deliver the license to an official authorized to certify a civil union: a judge, justice of the peace or member of the clergy. The civil union may be certified anywhere in the state.
3. The official must perform the certification within sixty days after the town clerk issues the license. The official must fill out and sign a portion of the civil union license. If the certification is delayed for more than sixty days a new license must be issued.
4. Within ten days of the certification, the official who certifies the union must return it to the town clerk who issued it. If the official delays returning the certification beyond the tenth day, the official may be penalized, but the civil union will still be valid.

18 V.S.A. § 5131. For civil unions, as for marriages, Vermont law requires no medical certificate, blood test or waiting period. 18 V.S.A. § 5145.

For more information on Vermont Civil Unions, please visit the Vermont Secretary of State's Website.