Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Partnership
Resource Guide
brought to you by:
503/222.6151 www.basicrights.org
Oregon’s Domestic Partnership Law
A Domestic Partnership may be established by two individuals of the same
sex who are at least 18 years of age, at least one of is an Oregon resident,
and who are otherwise legally capable of consenting.
Establishing a Domestic Partnership affords same‐sex couples all of the
rights and responsibilities that are granted under state law through a
marriage contract. These important rights and
responsibilities include:
• Hospital visitation rights and medical decision‐making for part‐
ners; Check out
• Automatic parentage of non‐biological parents for www.basicrights.org
children born after the Domestic Partnership is estab‐ for a list of the top 25
rights and
lished; responsibilities
• Significant legal and financial obligations to each other; afforded to domestic
• And dissolution provisions similar to legal divorce. partners!
Domestic Partnerships are prohibited and void if:
• Either party has a different legally‐recognized spouse*; or
• The parties are first cousins or any nearer kin.
An Oregon court may declare a Domestic Partnership void if:
• A judge finds either party was not of legal age (18); or
• Was incapable of consenting due to insufficient understanding; or
• Consent was obtained by force or fraud.
Next Steps for Basic Rights Oregon
With the passage of our anti‐discrimination and domestic partnership legislation, 2007 was an historic year
with incredible victories to celebrate! But we still have a lot to do.
Opponents failed in their first attempt to force a divisive, statewide vote on our new laws—but they get a
second chance at putting an initiative on the ballot in ‘08. So we need to prepare to defend the Oregon
Family Fairness Act and Oregon Equality Act in 2008.
We also know that simply passing a law isn’t enough—you have to enforce that law. And Basic Rights
Oregon is committed to ensuring that our new laws are enforced uniformly around all of Oregon.
Finally, we couldn’t have passed this historic legislation without the pro‐equality majority we currently
have in the House and Senate. We need to increase that majority in this upcoming election year.
To accomplish these goals, we need your help! To get involved, call us at 503/222.6151 or visit 1
www.basicrights.org for more details.
You and your partner can register your Domestic
The Registration Process Partnership in any county in Oregon!
The first day you can register your Domestic Partnership is
January 2, 2008, as January 1st is a holiday. Oregon’s Domestic Partnership registry is managed in
each county by the County Clerk’s office. This office is located in the county seat, and this is
where you and your partner can file the necessary paperwork to become domestic partners. In
order to register your Domestic Partnership, you will need:
• A Driver’s License, passport, or other state‐issued ID with your
photo, date of birth, and signature.
• Cash to pay the registration fee. Most clerk’s offices do not accept See pages 6 to 8
checks and none accept credit or debit cards. for county clerk
contact info and
details on
Once you arrive, these are the most likely steps you will take: registration costs!
1. Go into the office and obtain a Declaration of Domestic Part‐
nership form.
2. Fill out the form (but don’t sign it yet).
3. Locate a Notary Public, sign the Declaration in his/her presence, and have him/her notarize
the form. You need ID for this step, and be prepared to pay a small fee for this service, be‐
tween $1 and $5. Please note that notaries may charge up to $5 per signature, including their
own, so it may cost up to $15 in total. In the Contact and Fee Information by County Section
of this guide, but the price of notarization listed is per signature. Please note that the notary
public may be an official at the County Clerk’s office but may not be—for a complete list of No‐
taries Public in Oregon, check out: www.filinginoregon.com/Oregon/Notaries.htm.
4. Bring the notarized form back to the clerk’s office and pay your cash fee. You may need to
show your ID again as proof of age.
5. The clerk will then sign your Declaration of Domestic Partnership form, making it legally valid,
and voila, you and your partner are domestically partnered!
6. You will then receive a decorative, commemorative Certificate of Registered Domestic Part‐
nership either in person or in the mail. This is NOT a legal document.
7. We recommend that couples purchase a certified copy of their Declaration of Domestic Part‐
nership from their county clerk (the fees vary from county to county but typically between $10
and $20). The certified copy will assist you with benefits claims and name changes.
A Note on Name Changes:
To modify your surname(s), obtain a certified copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership from
your county clerk. This copy is usually sent by mail. Then, take your certified copy to the Department
2 of Motor Vehicles to change your Oregon Driver’s License. The certified copy of your Declaration of
Domestic Partnership is a legal document.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my partner and I have participated in a local Domestic Partnership registry
(Portland/Multnomah County, Eugene or Ashland), must we re‐register?
YES – couples participating in a local Domestic Partnership registry
should plan to re‐register under the new Domestic Partnership law ,
provided they wish to assume more expansive legal rights and
responsibilities. The existing local registries are symbolic in
This FAQ will be nature and confer no legal rights, whereas the Oregon Family
frequently updated. Fairness Act significantly changes the legal status of
For the most recent Domestic Partners, giving them all of the rights and
version, please visit responsibilities currently available to married couples.
www.basicrights.org
If my partner and I entered into a Domestic Partnership
(as is available in California) or a Civil Union (as is available in
Vermont), can we get an Oregon Domestic Partnership?
YES—a couple who entered into a civil union or domestic partnership
in another state can and should file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership
under Oregon law.
My partner and I were married in Massachusetts, Canada or another
country. Would we need to dissolve our previous marriage in order to file a
Domestic Partnership in Oregon?
NO—a couple who married in Massachusetts, Canada, or another country
does not have to dissolve their previous marriage. They can and should
file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership under Oregon law.
If my Domestic Partner and I travel or move to another state that recognizes
same‐sex relationships, will our Oregon Domestic Partnership be valid
there?
PROBABLY NOT. A prudent legal approach would be to assume that
another state would not recognize an Oregon Domestic Partnership. An
emergency situation like the illness or injury of a partner or child would be
a bad time to try to sort out the legal complexities of interstate law.
Couples in this situation are strongly encouraged to consult an attorney.
3
Will Oregon recognize Domestic Partnerships or Civil Unions of other
states?
Legal opinions vary on whether the Family Fairness Act authorizes
Oregon to recognize the rights and responsibilities conferred on same‐
sex couples by other jurisdictions. While Oregon is prohibited from
recognizing same‐sex marriages due to Constitutional Amendment 36,
the state MAY be able to extend the rights and responsibilities of an
Oregon Domestic Partnership to a same‐sex couple who obtained legal
recognition in another state via Domestic Partnership or Civil Union. The
language of HB 2007 does not explicitly address this situation; the safest
route for a couple seeking a legally‐recognized relationship in this
state would be to register for an Oregon Domestic Partnership.
Will my employer be required to start providing health
care to my partner, like they do for married spouses? Another FAQ
will soon be
HB 2007 provides no clear answer. A 1998 court available on
case required public (government agency) gender identity
employers to extend health care benefits to and the Oregon
same‐sex partners. It is unclear whether private Equality Act.
employers are obligated to extend health
benefits to same‐sex domestic partners.
Although we believe there are strong legal arguments
that would support such an obligation, some private
employers may deny health benefits asserting the denial is permitted
under federal law. This question likely will be resolved by the courts. For
now, you can check the language in your employer's policy and health
plan documents to determine if the policy or plan already extends
benefits to opposite‐sex domestic partners. Ask your company benefits
administrator whether, given the new laws, the company intends to
provide same‐sex partner benefits as of January 1, 2008.
Please note that this resource guide is for educational
purposes only and is NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Please consult your
4
attorney regarding your specific situation.
Contact Information and Fees by County
Baker County Columbia County Deschutes County
Tamera Green, County Clerk Betty Huser, County Clerk Nancy Blankenship, County Clerk
tgreen@bakercounty.org huserb@co.columbia.or.us recordings@deschutes.org
541/523.8207 503/397.3796 541/388.6549
1995 3rd Street, Suite 150 230 Strand Street 1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200
Baker City, OR 97814 St. Helens, OR 97051 Bend, OR 97701
Fee: $54, cash and local checks Fee: $50, cash and in‐state checks Fee: $55, cash and in‐state checks
Required ID: state‐issued ID Required ID: state‐issued ID Required ID: state‐issued ID
Notary: Yes, no charge Notary: No Notary: No
The Declaration of Domestic Partnership form will be available online at http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/chs/index.shtml starting
January 1st, 2008. If you would like to bring your own copy, make sure you print it on legal paper (8.5 x 14)!
5
Harney County Klamath County Malheur County
Maria Iturriaga, County Clerk Linda Smith, County Clerk Deborah DeLong, County Clerk
clerk@co.harney.or.us lsmith@co.klamath.or.us ddelong@malheurco.org
541/573.6641 541/883.5134 251 “B” Street West, Courthouse
450 N Buena Vista 305 Main Street Suite 4
Burns, OR 97720 Klamath Falls, OR 97601 Vale, OR 97918
Fee: $50, cash and in‐state checks Fee: $57.75, cash Fee: $60, cash or money order
Required ID: state‐issued ID Required ID: state‐issued ID Required ID: state‐issued ID
Notary: Yes, no charge Notary: Yes, no charge Notary: Notaries available in build‐
ing, $1 per signature
Hood River County Lake County
Leah Day, Records and Elections Stacie Geaney, County Clerk Marion County
Clerk sgeaney@co.lake.or.us Bill Burgess County Clerk
leah.day@co.hood‐river.or.us 541/947.6006 clerk@co.marion.or.us
541/386.1442 513 Center Street 503/588.5225
601 State Street Lakeview, OR 97630 100 High Street NE, Room #1331
Hood River, OR 97031 Please contact Clerk Geaney for fee, Salem, OR 97301
Fee: $50, cash and checks ID, and notary information Please contact Clerk Burgess for
Required ID: state‐issued ID fee, ID and notary information.
Notary: No
Lane County
Annette Newingham, County Clerk Morrow County
Jackson County Annette.Newingham@co.lane.or.us Bobbie Childers, County Clerk
Carmen Helman, Deputy Clerk 541/682.3653 bchilders@co.morrow.or.us
HelmanCD@jacksoncounty.org 125 East 8th Avenue 541/676.5604
541/774.6152 Eugene, OR 97401 100 S Court Street, Suite 102
10 S Oakdale, Room 216 Fee: $50‐$60, cash and in‐state Heppner, OR 97836
Medford, OR 97501 checks Please contact Clerk Childers for
Please contact Clerk Helman for Required ID: state‐issued ID fee, ID and notary information.
fee, ID, and notary information. Notary: No
Multnomah County
Jefferson County Mike Watson, Customer Services
Kathy Marston, County Clerk
Lincoln County
Supervisor
kathy.marston@co.jefferson.or.us Gail Bradshaw
At‐webmaster@co.multnomah.or.us
541/475.4451 GBradshaw@co.lincoln.or.us
503/988.3027 (Marriage License &
66 SE “D” Street, Suite C 541/265.4131 Domestic Partnership Information)
Madras, OR 97741 225 W Olive Street 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 175
Please contact Clerk Marston for Newport, OR 97365 Portland, OR 97214
fee, ID, and notary information Fee: $60, cash Fee: $60, cash or money order
Required ID: state‐issued ID Required ID: state‐issued ID
Josephine County Notary: No Notary: yes, no charge (only available
Georgette Brown, County Clerk for the first two weeks)
clerk@co.josephineor.us Linn County
Steven Druckenmiller, County Clerk
Polk County
541/474.5240
sdruckenmiller@co.linn.or.us Valerie Unger, County Clerk
500 NW Sixth Street
541/967.3831 unger.valerie@co.polk.or.us
Grants Pass, OR 97526
300 4th Avenue SW 503/623.9217
Fee: $50‐$60, cash and in‐state
Albany, OR 97321 850 Main Street
checks
Fee: $50, cash Dallas, OR 97338
6 Required ID: state‐issued ID Fee: $50, cash and checks
Notary: No Required ID: state‐issued ID
Notary: Yes, $5 per signature Required ID: state‐issued ID
Notary: Yes, no charge
Sherman County Union County Washington County
Debbie Hayden, Chief Deputy Clerk Robin Church, County Clerk Sally Myers, Supervisor of Washing‐
dhayden@sherman‐county.com clerk31@union‐county.org ton County Recorders Office
541/565.3606 541/278.6236 Sally_Meyers@co.washington.or.us
500 Court Street 1001 4th Street, Suite D 503/846.8752
Moro, OR 97039 La Grande, OR 97850 155 N First Avenue, Suite 130
Fee: Unknown, cash and in‐state Fee: $50, cash and in‐state checks Hillsboro, OR 97124
checks Required ID: state‐issued ID Fee: $60, cash and in‐state checks
Required ID: state‐issued ID Notary: No Required ID: state‐issued ID
Notary: Yes, no charge Notary: No
Wallowa County
Tillamook County Dana Roberts, County Clerk Wheeler County
Tassi O’Neil, County Clerk wcclerk@co.wallowa.or.us Barbara S. Sitton, County Clerk
toneil@co.tillamook.or.us 541/426.4543 bsitton@ncesd.k12.or.us
503/842.3402 101 S River Street, Room 100 541/763.2400
201 Laurel Avenue Enterprise, OR 97828 701 Adams Street, Room 204
Tillamook, OR 97141 Please contact Clerk Roberts for Fossil, OR 97830
Fee: $50, cash fee, ID, and notary information. Please contact Clerk Sitton for fee,
Required ID: state‐issued ID Wasco County ID, and notary information.
Notary: No Karen LeBreton Coats, County Clerk Yamhill County
karenl@co.wasco.or.us Jan Coleman ,County Clerk
Umatilla County
541/506.2530 colemanj@co.yamhill.or.us
Jean Henphill, Chief Records Clerk
511 Washington Street, Room 201 503/434.7518
jeanh@co.umatilla.or.us
The Dalles, OR 97058 414 NE Evans Street
541/278.6236
Fee: $50, cash McMinnville, OR 97128
216 SE 4th Street, Room 108
Required ID: state‐issued ID Fee: $50, cash
Pendleton, OR 97801
Notary: No Required ID: state‐issued ID
Fee: $50, cash
Required ID: state‐issued ID Notary: No
Notary: Yes, $5 per signature
Celebrate! Our New Laws
Join Basic Rights Oregon on January 2nd to celebrate our new laws:
Portland Eugene
The Gerding Theatre at the Armory Davis’ Restaurant & Bar
128 NW Eleventh Avenue 94 W Broadway
5:00pm—8:00pm 5:30pm
Light food, cash bar, jazz band, & more! Children Free appetizers & champagne toast—Davis’ will also be
Welcome! Contact andrew@basicrights.org for donating 10% of their dinner sales to Basic Rights
details! Oregon. Contact becky@basicrights.org for details!
Southern Oregon (in Ashland) Bend and Corvallis—Details to follow shortly!
Standing Stone Brewing Company
110 Oak Street (between Main and Lithia) Interested in organizing a celebration near you?
5:30pm Contact Andrew at andrew@basicrights.org for
further details and assistance!
Free appetizers, cash bar! Contact 7
becky@basicrights.org for additional details.
Latest Update: December 5th, 2007