Rainbow bLAWg

Gay and Lesbian registered domestic partners in the state of Washington will soon find themselves married. They have until the end of June to legally dissolve their domestic partnerships or their relationships will automatically convert to marriage – courtesy of the state.

Although domestic partnership are similar to marriage, most people don’t think of them as such. Many couples have broken up since they registered, and some are married to other people – which will soon be illegal. Some may be former Washington residents now living in other states where their partnerships aren’t recognized and where dissolution isn’t possible.

By mid-to-late March, the Secretary of State’s Office will send out notices to those in the domestic-partnership registry, alerting them to the pending change. As of Friday, an estimated 6,500 same-sex couples remained in the state registry.

Washington lawmakers legalized domestic partnerships (DPs) in 2007, five years before same-sex marriages became legal. The law granted a range of marriage-like benefits to gay and lesbian couples, as well as to heterosexual couples in which at least one partner is 62.

The June 30 conversion won’t affect senior couples in registered domestic partnerships — gay or straight. Beginning July 1, domestic partnerships will remain an option only for them.

+++

Give Rainbow Law’s legal document preparation service a risk-free try by ordering state-specific advance directives (living wills, medical & financial powers of attorney with hospital visitation & more). Payment can be made via a small donation or you can get them for free in exchange for a Tweet or Facebook post!

Just double click on the rainbow banner:

Google+

Carrie Stone