Domestic Partnerships
Domestic partners are two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring. A domestic partnership is created by registering the domestic partnership with the California Secretary of State. Effective January 1, 2005, the rights and obligations of registered domestic partners under California law are virtually identical to the rights and obligations of spouses.
Terminating a domestic partnership can be done by filing a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State if certain requirements are met. A domestic partnership may also be terminated by superior court proceedings for dissolution, nullity or legal separation. The process is similar to that of a dissolution, nullity or legal separation for a marriage.
