San Jose Family Lawyer

Domestic Partnership Registration

California recognizes domestic partnerships in the California Family Code. A domestic partnership is established when persons meeting the criteria specified in Family Code section 297 file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership form with the Secretary of State.

Once the Declaration of Domestic Partnership has been filed with the Secretary of State, a copy of the form is returned to the partners. In addition, a copy of the State Department of Public Health’s brochure “Your Future Together” will be given to the couple. The brochure contains information for applicants who qualify as domestic partners.

If at some point a domestic couple decides to separate, the domestic partnership can be terminated under certain conditions. These conditions are outlined in Family Code section 299. The first step is to file a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State. Once the original notice is filed, the domestic partnership is terminated six months after the date of filing. The termination will be successful as long as neither party files a Revocation of Termination of Domestic Partnership.

A domestic partnership is a legal or personal relationship between individuals who live together and share a common domestic life but are joined by neither a traditional marriage nor a civil union. In California, domestic partnerships are almost the equivalent of marriage.

Contact a San Jose Family Lawyer

For more information on domestic partnerships or the separation of assets in the event of dissolution, contact the San Jose family lawyer of the Law Office of Daniel Jensen at 408-296-4100.