I am trying to organize a group of follks to go down to City Hall on Friday and take advantage of the Domestic Partnership Registry. Both same sex and opposite sex couples are encouraged to join us. If this is of any interest to you please let me know.
12 thoughts on “Duluth Domestic Partnership Registry”
Sorry, we already did it. The clerk was very pleasant.
I already got mine back in the mail. Have fun though! 😀
Just wondering… what does the partnership allow for? What’s the benefit, if any, or is it just a political statement. I’m in favor of it either way; it’s a step in the right direction. But, I’m wondering if it solves any of the issues facing unmarried couples.
If you are employed by a company that grants benefits to your domestic partner and if for some reason you need to prove that you actually have that relationship, the registration is proof (legally recognized by the city). This is particularly important for insurance issues.
Have any of these employers locally been identified yet? Any that would grant benefits to somebody who owns one of these 25 dollar scraps of paper but wouldn’t to somebody who does not?
Danny, I don’t think it’s a case of employers hedging the whole issue on this piece of paper, but rather that it makes things simpler. At least, that’s the theory — I can’t really say how any particular example has worked so far.
I would think a durable power of attorney and a will would be a better way of handling these issues.
But it probably costs more than a $25 piece of official guvmint letterhead.
Can I register my dog? She is my domestic companion.
I second ajp’s recommendations. If you are a domestic partner (hetero or homo) and are seriously interested in securing available employment benefits in addition to all the other rights that married people “enjoy” automatically, then the domestic partner registry is only one piece of the puzzle. For good reason, gay and straight couples are committing to each other but staying away from marriage. When they have children, the absence of the protections and rights provided by marriage can sometimes cause astonishing results. The best course of action is to *ahem* talk to an attorney, as there are fairly simple, cost-effective ways of securing these rights without having to wear a suit (or a dress) and throwing a big party.
We did it pretty much as a political statement. We are a hetero couple who think ALL marriages should be legally recognized “Domestic Partnerships” first. If you then want to stand in a church, or in front of your friends, or below the god of your choice just to make a scene about it, then that is your perrogative, but it shouldn’t have ANYTHING to do with the legal implications of a relationship.
I do think there should be more to registering than just popping into the Clerks office. Standing in front of a judge would make it seem more “legit”.
Interestingly, my female partner worked for a company that offered “domestic partner” benefits, but only to its gay employees because “Heteros could get married if they wanted benefits”. That was a case where the $25 piece of paper might get your foot in the door for a legal argument.
Hi, my name is Kim Johnson, I am a reporter for ch. 10. I’m curious as to how the registry process went for those of you who have signed up. Would you mind sending me an email? kjohnson@wdio.com
Thanks.
Danny G.
UMD offers same sex partners of employees health insurance benefits. To qualify Nick and I had to register as domestic partners in Minneapolis.
They didn’t charge $25 though.
Really? Wow. Well, thanks for the example. And congrats on being able to avoid wasting the 25 bucks.