Tacoma, Washington, Domestic Partnership Family Law Attorneys
While Washington state law still does not recognize gay marriage, our state is making great progress in its recognition and protection of the basic legal rights and needs of same-sex couples. Washington allows domestic partners to register as couples to afford protection under a comprehensive Domestic Partnership Act. Because the domestic partnership concept is so new to Washington, however, the courts have not yet fully interpreted how the law operates when a same-sex domestic partnership is dissolved. In the next few years this will be a cutting-edge area of family law in this state. And as this area or family law expands to meet the needs of same-sex couples, the attorneys at Scholl Law Firm, P.S. are prepared to protect the rights of our gay and lesbian clients.
Contact us for more information about Washington’s laws regarding Domestic Partnership, as well as other legal issues essential to the rights of gay and lesbian couples. At Scholl Law Firm, P.S., you will find the dignity and respect you deserve whether you are leaving a same-sex relationship, or looking to protect your rights in a legal system that has historically failed to fully recognize your fundamental civil rights.
What happens when same-sex Domestic Partners get a “divorce?”
The Washington Legislature has finally recognized that same-sex couples not only exist and flourish, they also terminate just as straight marriages and relationships do. When a registered Domestic Partnership ends in Washington, our courts will deal with disputed issues of property division, and if children are involved, disputed issues of parenting and child support, in essentially the same manner as with a divorcing straight couple.
What if my partner and I do not want to register our relationship?
While our state’s new Domestic Partnership legislation makes it easier to secure many of your important legal rights, clearly not all same-sex couples want to be registered with the State as a Domestic Partnership. If you and your partner choose not to register as Domestic Partners, there are many steps that can, and certainly should, be taken to secure and protect your rights when it comes to acting on your partner’s behalf in an emergency, including making critical medical and financial decisions if your partner is incapacitated for any reason. Do not wait for the need to arise before addressing these issues. Life happens. So does death. Gay or straight, thoughtful planning is key.
