State to Accept Domestic Partner Declarations

The California secretary of state’s office will begin accepting declarations of domestic partnership beginning Monday.

Under terms of a law enacted in 1999, the filings will be accepted from any two people as long as both are 18 or older, share a common residence, agree to be jointly responsible for each other’s basic living expenses and neither is married or a member of any other domestic partnership.

Domestic partnership registration allows mutual visitation rights in medical facilities and permits state and local government employees to be covered under a partner’s health plan.

Forms for the declaration and termination of a domestic partnership will be available at all county clerk offices statewide, at the secretary of state’s offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego and online at the secretary of state’s Web site, www.ss.ca.gov.