How do you register a domestic partnership?

In many places, the couple must file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State or City Clerk. This is an official document that publicly declares their commitment to each other. In some states, like Oregon, Colorado, and Wisconsin, domestic partnerships are registered at the county level.

Where are domestic partnerships registered?

In some states, like Oregon, Colorado, and Wisconsin, domestic partnerships are registered at the county level. Other states, like New Jersey, Hawaii, and Nevada, have their own specific domestic partnership laws. In the District of Columbia, residents seeking to register as domestic partners must appear in person at the D.C. Department of Health.

What is a domestic partnership registry?

Enacted in 1999, the domestic partnership registry was the first of its kind in the United States created by a legislature without court intervention. Initially, domestic partnerships enjoyed very few privileges—principally just hospital-visitation rights and the right to be claimed as a next of kin of the estate of a deceased partner.