• Home
  • About
    ▼
    • About Collaborative Divorce
    • Why Choose Collaborative Divorce
    • Introduction to the Collaborative Divorce Process
    • About SCD
  • Find a Professional
    ▼
    • All Professionals
    • Attorneys
    • Financial Specialists
    • Divorce Coaches
    • Child Specialists
    • Resource Specialists
    • How to Choose a Collaborative Professional
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sacramento Collaborative Divorce

A Better Peaceful Divorce

Join SCDG | Members Area | Contact Us

  • Home
  • About
    • About Collaborative Divorce
    • Why Choose Collaborative Divorce
    • Introduction to the Collaborative Divorce Process
    • About SCD
  • Find a Professional
    • All Professionals
    • Attorneys
    • Financial Specialists
    • Divorce Coaches
    • Child Specialists
    • Resource Specialists
    • How to Choose a Collaborative Professional
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Workshops
You are here: Home / Blog / Domestic Partners in California – Now Open to Nearly All

Domestic Partners in California – Now Open to Nearly All

January 13, 2020 By Katharine Biwott

Beginning January 1, 2020 California’s Registered Domestic Partnership law allows a whole new cohort of people to register with the Secretary of State.

Senate Bill 30 states that effective January 1, 2020 all couples regardless of age or sexual orientation that are eligible to be married may register with the California Secretary of State as domestic partners. 

What part of the law has changed?   

The new law, signed July 30, 2019 by Gavin Newsom as SB30, eliminates the requirement that both parties be either members of the same sex and the age requirement of 62 for one or both partners. Additionally, the $23 fee used to fund the development and support of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender curriculum for training workshops on domestic violence and for the support of a grant program to promote healthy nonviolent relationships in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The new bill expands the exemption to all partnerships when one or both are age 62 or older. 

Who can register as Domestic Partners?

Registration is open to couples who meet the requirements of California Family Code Section 297, which lists the following requirements: 

(1) Neither person is married to someone else or is a member of another domestic partnership with someone else that has not been terminated, dissolved, or adjudged a nullity.

(2) The two persons are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being married to each other in this state.

(3) Both persons are at least 18 years of age, except as provided in Section 297.1. 

(4) Both persons are capable of consenting to the domestic partnership.

Previously the requirements included language limiting domestic partners to same sex couples and partnerships in which at least one person was over age 62. 

How does a Registered Domestic Partnership differ from a Marriage?

Registered Domestic Partnerships are recognized by the State of California, and in California they confer the same rights and responsibilities as marriage.  However, the federal government does not recognize registered domestic partnerships the same. For example, when filing tax returns in California you can file as Registered Domestic Partners but on your Federal Tax Return you cannot file jointly as a married couple. There are also restrictions on claiming your partner as a dependent on your tax returns. 

How do we register as Domestic Partners?

To register you must file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the California Secretary of State. You can also register under a Confidential Declaration of Domestic Partnership which allows only you and your partner to access your registration. Once you have filled out the form you must have your signatures notarized. You can mail your registration to the Sacramento office or walk it in to either the Sacramento office or the Los Angeles office for the Secretary of State. Previously forms were made available at county clerk’s offices but will now only be available through the Secretary of State. 

How do we terminate our Registered Domestic Partnership?

Termination of a Registered Domestic Partnership can happen in different ways. If you meet the requirements of California Family Code Section 299(a) you can file a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership form with the Secretary of State. If your domestic partnership is more complicated, such as when you share children or real property, you can file for dissolution within California Family Court. For some couples who are both married and domestic partners you can dissolve both your marriage and your partnership via the same instrument in California Family Court.

Want to Read More? 

Collaborative Divorce: Divorce Without Destruction
The Value of a Collaborative Divorce: Priceless!
Collaboration, Cooperation and Communication during Divorce

Filed Under: Blog

Primary Sidebar

Find a Collaborative Professional

Getting started with the CollaborativeProcess? First you need to connect with a trained Collaborative Professional.

Find a Professional

Attend a Workshop

Collaborative Professional Spotlight

Ann S. Cinnamon, LMFT

Ann S. Cinnamon, LMFT

Have You Read?

COVID-19 and Divorce

How has COVID-19 Impacted Divorce in Sacramento?

We are over four months into the COVID-19 pandemic. It is impacting families in many ways. Some are affected more than others, but everyone is affected in some way.  In the family law [Read More...]

Contact Us 916-863-9777

Contact Us 916-863-9777

Footer

Sacramento Collaborative Divorce

4740 Folsom Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95819

916-863-9777
916-863-9777

Privacy Policy

Contact Our Webmaster

  • Facebook

Copyright © 2023 - All Rights Reserved

· · ·

Web Design by The Crouch Group · Log in