Domestic partnership in Washington (state)

State Registered Domestic Partnerships (SRDP) in Washington were created in 2007 following the Andersen v. King County decision. Subsequent legislation has made an SRDP the equivalent of marriage under state law. As a result of the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state, from June 30, 2014, SRDP will be available only when at least one of the partners is sixty-two years of age or older.[1]

Marriage
Civil unions and
registered partnerships
Common-law marriage
Minimal recognition
See also
Notes
  1. Performed statewide in 18 states and Mexico City, in certain municipalities in three other states, and recognized by all states in such cases.
  2. Performed in the Netherlands proper, including the Caribbean Netherlands. Registered in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  3. Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau or the Cook Islands.
  4. Not recognized in Caribbean overseas territories, though marriage-equivalent ordered for the Cayman Islands.
  5. Neither performed nor recognized in American Samoa or some tribal nations.
  6. Cohabitation. Registered foreign marriages confer limited rights. Marriage recognized in Tel Aviv.
  7. Degree of recognition unknown. No actual cases to date.
  8. Limited to residency rights for foreign spouses of EU citizens.
  9. Legal guardianships (nationwide, except Hong Kong and Macau), residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents (Hong Kong).
  10. Recognition of foreign marriage for parental rights
  11. Maitri Karar–type contractual relationships, but it is not legally enforceable
  12. Offer "partnership certificates", which provide some tools (such as hospital visitation rights) but do not offer any legal recognition
  13. Limited to spouses of foreign diplomatic officials.
* Not yet in effect or automatic deadline set by judicial body for same-sex marriage to become legal
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History of Washington Domestic Partnerships

Beginnings

In its Andersen v. King County decision,[2] the Washington Supreme Court noted the Legislature was free to revisit any law it had previously enacted. Lacking sufficient votes to change the marriage laws, the Legislature worked to pass a domestic partnership law.[3] After much debate, lawmakers approved a bill on April 10, 2007.[4] conferring eleven of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples (when at least one of the individuals is over the age of 62). Governor Christine Gregoire signed the bill April 21, 2007,[5] and the law took effect on July 22, 2007.

The first partnerships were registered July 23, 2007, the first business day after the law's effective date. More than 100 couples registered on the first day — some showing up as early as 4 a.m.[6]

Expansion

Similar to California's incremental approach with its domestic partnership laws, the Washington Legislature has expanded the scope of partnerships. On March 4, 2008, lawmakers approved adding over 170 rights and responsibilities to domestic partnerships.[7] The bill was signed by Governor Gregoire on March 12, 2008.[8] Washington domestic partners do not need to re-register to take advantage of the new benefits. Because of the significant changes in 2008, the Secretary of State's office mailed a letter to the last known address of each SRDP informing them of the changes. The new law became effective on June 12, 2008.

Lawmakers backing the domestic partnership legislation have been open in stating that their ultimate intent is to expand marriage laws to include same-sex couples and that they see the creation and expansion of domestic partnerships as steps toward that goal.[9] To that end, civil marriage equality bills have been introduced to encourage discussion.[10][11]

2009

"Everything but marriage"

Again like California, lawmakers continued to extend the rights and responsibilities of domestic partners. Legislation introduced on January 28, 2009 intended to provide "everything but marriage" to domestic partners.[12] Senate Bill 5688[13] would amend many state laws and place domestic partnership on an equal footing with civil marriage.[14] Despite the attempts to provide equal benefits to domestic partners, the law does not change Washington's restriction against same-sex marriages.[15]

"Although we view this as an improvement that provides real and concrete protections to same-sex partners, it’s an inadequate substitute for marriage," said Representative Jamie Pedersen, the House sponsor of the bill.[16]

The legislation cleared the Senate on March 10, 2009 and the House on April 15, 2009. Governor Gregoire signed it into law on May 18, 2009.[17]

Referendum 71
Main article: Washington Referendum 71

The legislation was meant to come into force on July 26, 2009, but Referendum 71 was filed seeking to overturn the expansion. At the last possible moment, opponents submitted enough signatures to postpone the law and force a popular vote on the new law.[18]

Groups such as Equal Rights Washington and Washington Families Standing Together urged voters to uphold the law providing for domestic partnerships, while Protect Marriage Washington was the main group in opposition.

Washington's voters approved the law 53.15% to 46.85%[19]  — this marked the first time in the United States that voters had approved a statewide ballot measure that extended LGBT relationship rights.[20] The law went into effect the day the election was certified, December 3, 2009.[21]

2012

Senate Bill 6239 was introduced on January 16, 2012, and amended RCW 26 "Domestic relations."[22] In addition to legalizing same-sex marriage this modifies RCW 26.60 "State registered domestic partnerships" to convert any undissolved same-sex domestic partnership that does not involve at least one member aged 62 years or older into a marriage on June 30, 2014.[23] SB 6239 passed the Senate by a vote of 28-21 on February 1, 2012. HB 2516 passed the House of Representatives on February 8 by a vote of 55-43.[24] Governor Christine Gregoire signed the engrossed bill into law on February 13.[25] The law was scheduled to take effect in June 2012, but was challenged by Referendum 74. Voters approved that referendum legalizing same-sex marriage on November 6, 2012. The law also provides that Washington's registered domestic partnerships will convert automatically to marriages on June 30, 2014, if not dissolved before that date.[26] Under RCW 26.60.100 (4), the marriage celebration or automatic conversion from domestic partnership to marriage is deemed as legally effective on the date of the original domestic partnership registration: "For purposes of determining the legal rights and responsibilities involving individuals who had previously had a state registered domestic partnership and have been issued a marriage license or are deemed married under the provisions of this section, the date of the original state registered domestic partnership is the legal date of the marriage." [23]

Rights and responsibilities

Original laws

After 2008's expanded domestic partnership law took effect, some of the domestic partner's benefits and responsibilities include:[27]

  • Visitation, health care decision-making, and information-access rights
  • Inheritance and administration rights
  • Burial, disposition, organ donation, autopsy, and wrongful death claim rights
  • A domestic partner has testimonial privileges in court
  • Community property and dissolution laws apply
  • Domestic partners may sue on behalf of the community
  • Domestic violence statutes apply
  • Certain property transfers between partners are not taxed
  • State veterans benefits apply
  • Appointed and elected officials’ partners subjected to same laws as married officials’ spouses

Post-Referendum 71

Under state law, domestic partners shall be treated the same as married spouses. Some of the more notable changes include:

  • Use of sick leave to care for a domestic partner
  • Rights to injured partners’ wages and benefits and unpaid wages upon death of a partner
  • Access to unemployment, disability insurance, and workers’ compensation coverage
  • Access to insurance continuance rights after the death of a domestic partner
  • Rights related to adoption, child custody and child support
  • Business succession rights

Registration

Domestic partnerships are issued by the Secretary of State's Corporations Division in Olympia. Couples can register in person or by mail. Couples wishing to enter into an SRDP are required to fill out an application,[28] have it notarized, and pay the filing fee. Once the application is received, the Secretary of State's office will issue a certificate and a wallet card for each individual.

Registrations are public records — information can be searched on the Secretary of State's domestic partnership page.[29]

Because an SRDP may be less familiar than marriage to some, the wallet cards or online verification can be used to prove a partner's relationship, especially during an emergency.

See also

References
  1. "26.60.030 Requirements". Apps.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  2. "Andersen v. King County, 138 P. 3d 963 (Wash. 2006)".
  3. Garber, Andrew (March 1, 2007). "Domestic partnership bill passes state Senate". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  4. "SB 5336". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  5. "Governor Gregoire Signs Legislation Giving Legal Rights to Domestic Partners". Office of the Governor. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  6. Garber, Andrew (July 24, 2007). "Gay partners make it official". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  7. "HB 3104". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  8. "Gov. Gregoire signs bill extending domestic partnership rights". Office of the Governor. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  9. La Corte, Rachel (March 12, 2008). "Gregoire signs law expanding domestic partner benefits". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  10. "HB 1350". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  11. "HB 1745". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  12. La Corte, Rachel (January 28, 2009). "Lawmakers announce "everything but marriage" bill". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  13. "SB 5688". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  14. Fairbanks, Madelyn (January 28, 2009). "Work on gay rights just getting started". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  15. "Rcw 26.04.010". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  16. 365gay Newscenter Staff. "Wash. mulls major expansion of gay partner law". Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  17. "Gov. Gregoire signs legislation to expand rights to domestic partners". Office of the Governor. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  18. La Corte, Rachel (August 31, 2009). "Gay partnership referendum makes ballot". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  19. "November 3, 2009 General Election". Secretary of State. Archived from the original on March 18, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  20. La Corte, Rachel. "Voters approve 'everything but marriage' bill". Associated Press. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  21. Ammons, David (2009-11-07). "R-71: Effective 12-3-09". From Our Corner. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  22. Senators Murray, Pflug, Hobbs, Litzow, Kohl-Welles, Ranker, Tom, Harper, Pridemore, Keiser, Kline, Regala, Eide, Rolfes, McAuliffe, Brown, Nelson, Chase, Fraser, Frockt, Conway, Kilmer, and Prentice; by request of Governor Gregoire (January 16, 2012). "Senate Bill 6239" (PDF). State of Washington 62nd Legislature 2012 Regular Session. Retrieved August 26, 2012.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  23. "RCW 26.60.100 Application for marriage — Dissolution of partnership by marriage — Automatic merger of partnership into marriage — Legal date of marriage". Washington State Legislature. February 13, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  24. "Washington state legislature votes to approve same-sex marriage". CNN. February 8, 2012.
  25. Turnbull, Lornet (February 13, 2012). "Gregoire signs gay marriage into law". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  26. Turnbull, Lornet (February 16, 2014). "State to same-sex domestic partners: You're about to be married". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  27. "A summary of 2008 changes to state laws regarding domestic partnerships" (PDF). Secretary of State. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  28. "Domestic Partnership declaration" (PDF). Secretary of State. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  29. "Domestic Partnerships". Secretary of State. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
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