Domestic partnership in Washington
| Legal recognition of same-sex relationships |
||
|---|---|---|
| Same-sex marriage | ||
|
|
||
| Recognized in some regions | ||
| United States(MA) |
||
| International recognition | ||
| Israel United States(NY) |
||
| Civil unions and domestic partnerships |
||
|
||
| Recognized in some regions | ||
|
Argentina ( |
||
| Unregistered co-habitation | ||
|
|
||
| Recognition debated | ||
|
||
| Civil unions legal, same-sex marriage debated |
||
|
|
||
| See also | ||
|
Same-sex marriage |
||
On April 10, 2007, the Washington Legislature gave final approval to legislation that created a state registered domestic partners (SRDP) registry. This legislation conferred eleven of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples, as well as opposite-sex couples when at least one of the individuals is age 62 or older. The bill S5336 was signed by Governor Christine Gregoire on April 21, 2007, and took effect on July 22, 2007.
The law however, does not legalize same-sex marriage or civil unions. In fact, SRDP legislation came into being after the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the state's existing "Defense of Marriage" act was constitutional, but the said the Legislature can revisit a law that they had enacted. Gay rights groups have seen SRDP as a step forward in their fight for same-sex marriage, while religious groups oppose it for that very same reason.
Benefits
Washington state registered domestic partners receive these benefits under state law:
- Health care facility visitation rights;
- The ability to grant informed consent for health care for a patient who is not competent;
- The ability to be able to speak with health care providers who will now be able to disclose information about the other partner without that partner's authorization;
- A surviving domestic partner may bring a wrongful death action based on the death of the other partner;
- Title and rights to cemetery plots and rights of internment;
- The ability to authorize autopsies and request copies of autopsy reports and records;
- The right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased partner;
- The ability to consent to the removal of human remains from a cemetery plot;
- The ability to make anatomical gifts;
- Inheritance rights when the domestic partner dies without a will; and
- Administration of an estate if the domestic partner died without a will or if the representative named in the will declines or is unable to serve.
Obtaining the SRDP certificate
The Corporations division of the Secretary of State began issuing registrations on Monday, July 23, 2007, the first business day after the law took effect.
Couples wishing to enter into a SRDP are required to fill out the application, have it notarized, and pay a $50 fee. Although the forms are available at county auditor's offices, unlike marriage licenses they are processed in Olympia, the state capital. The printed form can be mailed or taken in person to the corporations division in Olympia, and online registrations are expected soon. Once the application is received, the office will issue a certificate of SRDP and a wallet card for each individual.
See also
State
United States
- Same-sex marriage in the United States
- Civil unions in United States
- Domestic partnership in the United States
| LGBT and Queer studies series |
|---|
 |
|
LGBT Portal
|
| Lesbian · Gay · Bisexuality · Transgender · Homosexuality · Intersexuality |
| LGBT history |
| Timeline · Gay Liberation · Social movements · AIDS timeline |
| Culture |
| Community · Pride · Coming out · Gay slang · Gay village · Queer theory · Religion · Symbols · Queer · Questioning |
| Law |
| Marriage · Civil union · Adoption · Sodomy law · Military service · Hate crime · Laws by country |
| Categories |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
