NY Supreme Court Can Dissolve Civil Unions
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The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, located in Albany, recently ruled that the NY Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to dissolve civil unions performed in a state where such unions are legal. Ulster is one of the 28 counties in the Third Judicial Department. |
A lesbian couple who reside in NY went to Vermont in 2003 to enter into a civil union in accordance with Vermont Law. When their relationship deteriorated they were unable to obtain dissolution of the civil union in Vermont since that state's law requires that one of the parties be a resident of Vermont for one year preceding the date of the final hearing. This ruling is significant for our community, since until now, a New York resident who wanted to dissolve a civil union had to establish residency in the state where the union took place. Now, New York residents can dissolve their unions in New York courts.