Pasadena Family Law Firm Skilled in the Changing Issues of Domestic Partnership
Domestic partnership may be your best option
Domestic partnerships are restricted to same-sex couples and elderly opposite-sex couples. The Law Offices of Steven A. Blunt are educated in this quickly changing area of law and can help you navigate the rights and benefits that come with a domestic partnership.
Who is eligible
You must live together and not be married in any other state or related to each other by blood. For same-sex couples, you must be more than the age of 18. For opposite-sex couples, one of you must be over 62 and eligible for Social Security. Partners must file a declaration of domestic partnership with the California Secretary of State to become registered domestic partners. Entering into a domestic partnership is similar to entering into a marriage with regard to property, debts and support. Domestic partnerships are terminated with the same paperwork used to initiate divorce.
What are the benefits?
The state of California recognizes domestic partnerships, which is to say domestic partners are treated the same as married partners. Benefits include:
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Domestic partnerships are not federally recognized, however; and accordingly, domestic partners are not entitled to some of the federal benefits afforded married couples, such as joint federal tax filing, Social Security derivative benefits and the like. This area of family law is changing quickly as new laws are created, and couples navigate around the federal laws that affect domestic partnerships and their benefits. Pasadena attorney Steven A. Blunt stays up-to-date on these changes and can advise you of the changes in this area of law.
Domestic partnership vs. marriage
A domestic partnership is not a marriage — it is the legal recognition of a relationship to share in the benefits, property and status of married partners. Domestic partnerships provided proof of a relationship between same-sex couples before same-sex marriages became legal. Domestic partnerships may be preferred by some couples over same-sex marriage, because domestic partnerships are recognized in more states than same-sex marriage. Both statuses require intervention by a court of the state of California to be dissolved.
Learn your domestic partnership rights and benefits — consult the family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Steven A. Blunt
This area of law is changing quickly, and many issues relating to federal laws have yet to be decided. Allow the skilled attorneys at the Law Offices of Steven A. Blunt to navigate this area for you to make sure you are getting all the benefits and advantages conferred on you by new legislation. Call 818-337-3595 or contact us online.