OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington's new "everything but marriage" law will take effect Thursday. It provides expanded rights and responsibilities for domestic partners.
The state Corporations and Charities Division, which operates the state registry, is working to ensure the registration process goes smoothly. There have been an average of 90 registrations a week since the election. The weekly average is usually between 35 and 40 new registrations.
The following changes begin December 3:
- Terminations will now be handled by the courts in similar fashion to a divorce proceeding. If termination is by death of one partner, then a termination may be filed with the Office of Secretary of State when accompanied by a death certificate.
- If a member of a domestic partnership changes his/her name or address, they can file that change with the Office of Secretary of State.
The "everything but marriage" law expands benefits for partners, such as giving them sick leave to care for a domestic partner and rights related to adoption and child custody.
As of this week, there are more than 13,000 domestic partners registered in Washington State.
