Colorado

Family Law

Family Law

Section 14-15-118.5 – Construction – effect when parties to a civil union marry – dissolution process

(1) When parties who have entered into a civil union pursuant to this article subsequently marry, the effect is a merger of the two relationship statuses. Once merged, the civil union terminates as of the date of the solemnization of the marriage or determination of a common law marriage and no separate dissolution of the civil union is required.
(2) If one or both parties to a marriage that has been merged with a civil union subsequently desire to dissolve the marriage, legally separate, or have the marriage declared invalid, one or both of the parties must file a petition in accordance with the procedures specified in article 10 of this title.
(3) If a civil union and marriage were merged, any calculation of the duration of the marriage includes the time period during which the parties were in a civil union.

C.R.S. § 14-15-118.5

Added by 2016 Ch. 263,§ 6, eff. 6/8/2016.
L. 2016: Entire section added, (SB 16-150), ch. 263, p. 1080, § 6, effective June 8.

For the legislative declaration in SB 16-150, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2016.