You wanted to know what the impact to the Judicial Department would be if Connecticut experienced the same ratio of non-resident, same-sex civil unions or marriages as has occurred in Vermont (84% of their total to date) and non-residents were able to dissolve their same-sex civil union or marriage in this state.

Summary

The potential number of same-sex civil unions or marriages involving non-residents under the scenario above is 8,000 in the first year.  If this figure were to occur, and the residency requirement for dissolutions did not apply to same-sex civil unions or marriages in Connecticut, a future cost of between $400,000 and $800,000 would be incurred by the Judicial Department related to the need to add one - two more judges and various support staff to handle additional dissolution cases. 

Explanation

If the ratio of residents to non-residents entering civil unions in Vermont was applied to Connecticut, an estimated 8,000 same-sex marriages or civil unions could occur in the first year following potential enactment of legislation containing provisions similar to House Bills 5001 or 5002 of the 2002 regular session.[1]

The potential, future impact to the caseload of the Judicial Department’s Family Division could be significant given the scenario above.  It would result in a significant state cost to expand Judicial Department operations in order to accommodate up to 2,300 additional dissolution proceedings annually.  The annual, estimated cost could range from $400,000 to $800,000 in order to hire one - two new judges and support staff.

Note:

It appears that the residency requirement would apply to either same-sex civil unions or marriages as provided for under the bills.  Consequently, the future impact to the Judicial Department’s caseload would be negligible because these individuals would not be able to file for dissolutions.  Note that Vermont also has a residency requirement for dissolutions.  As of November 14, 2002, there had been 4,203 same-sex civil unions in Vermont involving non-residents and a total of 10 dissolutions.[2]

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact me.

Reviewed by: Alan Calandro, Office of Fiscal Analysis