Related Within the Second Degree? Burns v. Burns and the Potential Benefits of Civil Union Status

Burns v. Burns, No. AO1A 1827 (Ga. Ct. App. appeal filed May 25, 2001). In the first six months after Vermont enacted its civil union law, well over half of the couples who participated in civil union ceremonies were not residents of the state.

Various commentators have observed that this statistic raises significant questions regarding what form of recognition, if any, non-Vermont courts and legislatures will accord civil union status when couples return to their home states. The Georgia Court of Appeals is currently considering the first case that has explicitly raised this question, Burns v. Burns.