Domestic Partnership Defined
Not every happy couple decides to get married. For committed couples who want to make their relationship official outside of the traditional marriage context, there is the option of a domestic partnership. Domestic partnerships are legally recognized relationships that offer non-married couples the same or similar privileges provided to married people.
However, not all states offer domestic partnerships. Some states may call the institution a civil union, but definitions vary throughout the nation. Your legal options and possible benefits depend on where you live.
The Benefits of a Domestic Partnership
Domestic partnerships are not identical to a marriage, but they do provide some of the same privileges. Some of the common benefits these relationships share are visitation rights in jails and hospitals, right to family leave for a sick partner, ability to get coverage on a family health plan, and the right to bereavement leave.
Varying State Domestic Partnership Laws
The law dictates the benefits of a domestic partnership and varies by state. For instance, California law offers domestic partnerships the same interests and rights married couples have. Meanwhile, other states offer more limited forms of relationship recognition. For instance, in Maryland, the state only provides unmarried couples the option of a designated beneficiary agreement, which allows for limited privileges, like visiting rights and the right to make funeral arrangements.
In Florida, only certain counties, like Miami-Dade and Broward County, extend benefits to domestic partnerships. Other cities like Orlando and West Palm also provide a domestic partnership registry and grant couples the same basic rights afforded to married couples.
Requirements to Register a Domestic Partnership in Florida
Since the availability of domestic partnerships in Florida are determined by where you live, no statewide domestic partnership requirement exists. However, most counties share the essential conditions of both partners being consenting adults in a serious committed relationship. If all requirements are met, the couple may declare their relationship at the designated government office.
For instance, the city of Orlando requires that each person must be over the age of 18, not currently married to anyone else, and not related by blood. Both partners must reside in the same residence and consider themselves to be a member of the immediate family of the other partner. If the couple meets all of the conditions, they may file a domestic partnership affidavit at the Orange County City Clerk’s office.
Florida Unions and Living Together: Call an Attorney
The local nature of domestic partnerships in Florida makes it a complex area of law. The rights and privileges extended to domestic partners varies throughout the state, and since the protections offered in a domestic partnership are not absolute, issues arising when the relationship ends can be extremely challenging to settle.
If you need help in establishing or dissolving a domestic partnership, it may be in your best interest to contact an experienced attorney for legal guidance. A competent family law attorney will be able to explain all of your legal options and advise you on the best course of action to take.
