Persons authorized to certify civil unions - registration - fee

(1) A civil union may be certified by a judge of a court, by a district court magistrate, by a county court magistrate, by a retired judge of a court, by the parties to the civil union, or in accordance with any mode of recognition of a civil union by any religious denomination or Indian nation or tribe. (2) Within sixty-three days after the date on which the civil union is certified, either the person certifying the civil union or, if no individual acting alone certifies the civil union, a party to the civil union shall complete the civil union certificate and return the certificate to the county clerk and recorder's office that issued the license. A person who fails to return the civil union certificate to the county clerk and recorder as required by this section shall pay to the county clerk and recorder a late fee in an amount not less than twenty dollars. The county clerk and recorder may assess an additional five-dollar late fee for each additional day of failure to comply with the return requirements of this subsection (2), up to a maximum of fifty dollars. For purposes of determining whether to assess a late fee pursuant to this subsection (2), the date of return is deemed to be the date of postmark. (3) Upon receiving the civil union certificate, the county clerk and recorder shall register the civil union. (4) A priest, minister, rabbi, or other official of a religious institution or denomination or an Indian nation or tribe is not required to certify a civil union in violation of his or her right to the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the first amendment to the United States constitution and by section 4 of article II of the state constitution.