Domestic Partnership

San Diego Domestic Partnership Attorney

Legal advice for California domestic partnership registration

Even though the state of California does not recognize same-sex marriages, it has expanded the rights of couples who register as domestic partners to access to the rights and responsibilities enjoyed under a civil union. California domestic partnership benefits can include:

• Hospital visitation
• Right to make medical, legal, and financial decisions
• State disability benefits
• Estate planning, wills, inheritance rights, and death benefits
• Adoption
• Employment benefits (state, not federal)
• Health insurance

You Must Register...

In order to enjoy the benefits of a domestic partnership as a civil union, you must register with the state of California. The state will not recognize your relationship unless you have developed a satisfactory domestic partnership agreement and filed it with the state. This agreement gives both partners legal rights, and it also determines the many legal and financial results should the partnership be dissolved.

While domestic partners cannot divorce under a domestic partnership agreement, it is a legal document that will determine the distribution of property and the care of any minor children after the dissolution.

A Note to Seniors (62 & Up) Seeking Domestic Partnerships instead of Marriage

San Diego family law attorney Marilyn Bierer can also assist opposite-sex partners over the age of 62 in the creation of a legally recognized domestic partnership agreement. These agreements are generally made between individuals with substantial assets or retirement benefits who wish to protect those assets outside of a traditional marriage arrangement.

Contact Us

A California domestic partnership agreement is an important document. Your agreement can have serious repercussions in the future if not adequately prepared. Contact the San Diego offices of Bierer & Associates today for legal advice about your rights, your options, and the consequences of registration as domestic partners. In order to provide any legal advice, our lawyers must first meet with you in person to evaluate your situation.

For more specific information about California domestic partnership registration, contact the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund.