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What is a domestic partnership?
A domestic partnership is a relationship that creates a marriage like relationship between two parties. These can be of the same sex or not. The sexual relationship is not relevant to the definition.
With the new law about domestic partners, why do I need a domestic partnership agreement?
The new law addresses the legally required benefits/rights third parties must provide to domestic partners. It does not define the economic relationship between the parties as long as they are alive. So the right to inherit is addressed, but not what happens when you split up.
What is the advantage of a domestic partnership agreement?
The law defines what happens when a married couple gets divorced. The law is much more vague when it comes to unmarried couples. While cases dealing with unmarried couples are examined by analogy to the law of marriage, the two are not treated the same way, so that you can not rely on the same division e.g. a portion of your partner's retirement, if you break up.
What if I have coparented my partner's child, but have not adopted the child?
A recent court decision makes it possible to establishing a parenting plan, if you can show you have been the child's psychological parent. While this is a huge step forward, it is still much more difficult and expensive than an adoption. It is the road to take if the relationship is over and you want access to the child. But if you are in a relationship and things are going well, adopt the child to secure your rights now, not when you have a much higher and more difficult standard of proof.
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