HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-135 Info - Domestic Partnership CITY OF ASHLAND
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY
PROGRAM
(Passed by the Ashland City Council on 10-5-99.)
I. Purpose. The City Council authorizes and establishes a voluntary program of
registration of domestic partners. The domestic partnership registry is a means by
which unmarried, committed couples who share a life and home together may
document their relationship.
I1. Requirements. To register as domestic partners, couples must sign a combination
affidavit/certificate that they are:
B.
C.
D.
Residing together and sharing the common necessities of life.
Not married.
Both at least 18 years of age.
Not related by blood kinship closer than would bar marriage in the state of
Oregon and are mentally competent to consent to contract.
Each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely
and are responsible for each other's common welfare.
Not eligible to be married under state law.
In addition, the affidavit/certificate will include a statement by the partners that:
G. They agree to file a Statement of Termination of Domestic Partnership if the
partnership is terminated or any of the facts in A through F above change.
H. The registration of the Certificate of Domestic Partnership creates a domestic
partnership of continuous duration until either of the partners files a Statement of
Termination or upon the death of either partner. In the case of such death, no
statement is required to be filed.
I. Neither of the partners has filed a Statement of Termination within the last six
months.
J. They understand that any employer who suffers any loss because of false
statements contained in the Certificate of Domestic Partnership may have cause to
bring a civil action against the partners to recover losses.
K. They understand that they have a choice to formally file the registration or to
retain the registration for their own records. Formally filed registrations are public
information and may be viewed by the public.
III. Procedures
A. Registration Process: The following procedures will be used by the city in
registering domestic partnerships:
1. To register a domestic partnership, both parties must be present at the
city office designated for the registration.
2. A picture identification card is required from each partner (i.e., driver's
license, passport, military identification) plus one other type of identification card. A city
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official or designee will verify the identity of both individuals and birth date (both must be
at least 18 years of age).
3. Registration may be done during the regular business hours of 1 p.m.
and 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Advance appointments with the
designated office should be made whenever possible, particularly if friends or relatives
are attending.
4. Registration fee is $25, payable at the time of registration. This fee is
intended to cover costs. A review of the actual cost will be made six months after the
program is initiated and may be adjusted.
5. Registrants sign an affidavit/certificate (example attached) that they are
domestic partners and meet the requirements listed above.
6. A city official or the official's designee acknowledges the
affidavit/certificate.
7. To provide for confidentiality and public information requirements, there
are two ways to register. All registrants must follow steps 1-6 above. Registrants may
then either choose to: a) file the registration with the city or b) not formally file the
registration with the city office and retain the certificate for their own records. If the
registration is filed with the city, it becomes a public record and may be made available
for others to see. If a registrant chooses not to file the registration with the city, no
public record of the domestic partnership will exist.
8. In both ways of registering, the registering couple will be given the
original, signed affidavit/certificate. If the couple chooses to file their registration with
the city, the city will maintain a database containing names, date of registering, and
certificate numbers for the public record.
B. Verification: The city and the designated city official do not assume
responsibility for verifying information provided by the registrants on the
affidavit/certificate. As an affidavit, registrants are attesting, taking an oath, that the
information is true. The city official or the official's designee will only verify the age and
identity of registrants based upon photo identification provided. The city will check the
database to confirm that individuals registering are not actively registered as domestic
partners with anyone else.
IV. Termination of Domestic Partnerships. A domestic partnership may be ended
when:
A. One of the partner dies.
B. One or both partners files a Statement of Termination of Domestic Partnership
with the city. The partner or partners must sign an affidavit/statement under penalty of
perjury that the partnership is terminated. If only one partner signs, that partner must
provide evidence (certified mail receipt) that the signing partner attempted to notify the
other partner of the termination of the partnership. Before a termination statement may
be filed, a termination fee of $25 shall be paid. A review of the actual cost will be made
six months after the program is initiated and may be adjusted.
V. Public Records. For partnerships that are filed with the city, the city will maintain
records of domestic partnerships that include names, dates of registering, and
certificate numbers. Terminated partnerships will also be recorded. For partnerships
that are not filed, certificate numbers will only be maintained for statistical purposes. All
records maintained by the city are public records and may be viewed by the public.
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