The Benefits of a Registered Domestic Partnership

It’s a story that we all know too well. Two young lovers plan to spend the rest of their lives together. Although love hasn’t changed, the possibilities have. Couples can choose to remain unmarried and still have long-term romances. 

But what if, they still desire the same legal and financial benefits of a marriage? This is where, in the state of California, a registered domestic partnership can be beneficial. 

Domestic Partnership is Available to everyone

 Same-sex couples had the option of registering for a domestic partnership before the state and the Supreme Court formally legalized same-sex marriage.

This privilege was granted to them in 1999. Domestic partnerships were only available to same-sex couples and people over the age of 62 for the next 16 years. 

Domestic partnership regulations remained unchanged after homosexual marriage was legalized in the United States in 2015. Same-sex couples and older citizens had more partnership possibilities than anybody else in the state, which raised some concerns. 

Advocacy groups began to argue that, just as prohibiting same-sex marriages was unjust, prohibiting heterosexual domestic partnerships was also unjust.

California intervened to change it’s laws. All consenting people over the age of 18 were granted the right to form a domestic partnership in January of 2020. All of the sensible marital standards are still in effect. 

Neither party can be married or in a relationship with someone else; the couple cannot be blood relatives; persons cannot be forced into the relationship and so on. 

The Advantages of a Legal Domestic Partnership

Domestic partnerships are treated in the same way as marriage is treated by the state. Couples can, for example, obtain health benefits from their spouses. So why is any of this important? Why don’t you just marry?  

There is less Entanglement

Although a domestic partnership has many of the same legal benefits as marriage, the couple is less legally bound. When a couple marries, they become legally related. Domestic partnerships allow people to commit to one another for the rest of their lives while remaining legally separate. 

The benefits of a former marriage are frequently lost in new marriages. When a bereaved individual receives “survivors rights,” for example, they lose this benefit when they remarry. Many of the benefits from your prior marriage are still available to you if you enter into a domestic partnership. 

Domestic partnerships are more easily disbanded. If the partnership is less than 5 years old, there are no children involved, and the couple does not have any large, jointly owned assets, it can be dissolved by simply filing paperwork. 

The pair can simply file a state-issued “termination of domestic partnership” and continue on.

(However, if the legal partnership is older than 5 years, there are children involved, or there are major assets, terminating the legal partnership will require a process almost exactly like a divorce.) 

When you’re young, these benefits can be appealing. Every generation, young people become more knowledgeable, and many young people instinctively grasp that “this might not last forever.” A domestic partnership can bring a couple closer together while requiring less legal commitment. Even older couples can utilize a partnership as a “practice marriage” to see if they wish to “reup the contract” in five years. People with domestic partnerships have a lot more breathing room.

There is Less Gravity

The pressure and extravagance of a marriage is not for everyone. It’s a significant event to officially welcome someone into your family. Everyone in the room cheers at an engagement announcement. Some folks simply want to skip the stress of the dress, the party, the tuxedos and the cake. Many people hold wedding parties simply to please their family. 

A domestic partnership also carries less historical baggage. Young people nowadays are quite interested in the origins of our traditions. Many people consider marriage as a relic of a more oppressive time, as atheism, agnosticism, and deconstructionist philosophy are on the rise. Others see it as a religious ceremony, and they have no desire to partake in such rituals. The past burdens of a traditional marriage can be separated by couples through partnership. 

There are Federal Tax Benefits

Some people object to federal government’s “marriage penalty.” Separate incomes are combined when a married couple file. People who rely on benefits like disability, Medicare, and Obamacare may suffer as a result of this. Many government programs are aimed at assisting low-income persons in various income brackets. 

If someone receiving such benefits marries someone with more money, they may find themselves in a higher tax bracket, losing their advantages. 

Because the federal government does not consider domestic partners to be a single entity, you may be able to keep your benefits. You submit your own tax return with your own income and only claim 12 percent of your partner’s income. This may allow you to remain in your existing salary bracket. 

The Disadvantages of a Domestic Partnership

There is no such thing as perfection in life. Domestic partnership is not without its drawbacks. A domestic partnership can affect your state taxes in the same way that marriage can. You may be placed into a higher tax bracket, resulting in the loss of some benefits.

You may also be denied access to some family-only benefits. The Family and Medical Leave Act, for example, allows relatives to take time off work to care for sick relatives. It’s a federal law, and your partner isn’t considered family by the US government. You won’t be able to take advantage of this leave because you won’t be considered a spouse. 

When the issue was brought before a California judge, they supported that interpretation of the law.

How to File for a Domestic Partnership

The documentation is simply available online through the Secretary of State’s office. The process, however, cannot be completed through the internet. Print this form, fill it out, then mail it or drop it off in person. Couples under the age of 62 will pay $33, while those 62 and up will pay $10. The extra $23 goes toward a state of domestic abuse education for young couples. 

Speak to a Lawyer

Although the procedure is simple, it’s a good idea to have your documentation reviewed by a lawyer before filing. A domestic partnership is still a legally binding connection, so its important to make sure that a professional goes over it. At the very least, lawyers can ensure that you’ve completed all of the necessary steps and expedite the process. At most, lawyers will offer sound advice and assist you and your new domestic partner in creating a secure future together.  Call Spodek Law Group today for caring, skilful legal help with your domestic partnership registration.