On July 30, , California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 30 into law, changing existing law to permit opposite-sex couples under the age of 62 years old to register as domestic partners. Those who enter into domestic partnerships have the same rights, protections, and benefits as spouses under California law, including the right, if otherwise eligible, to use sick time, take protected leave pursuant to the California Family Rights Act, or receive Paid Family Leave benefits from the State, in order to care for a spouse with a qualifying health issue, among other rights. Existing law within the California Family Code section provided, among other requirements, that a domestic partnership could be entered into between two individuals who were either: 1 members of the same sex; or 2 if members of the opposite sex, at least one of the two individuals were over 62 years old and meet the eligibility criteria for certain federal benefits under the Social Security Act.

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TRENDING LEGAL ANALYSIS
A domestic partnership is an interpersonal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common domestic life, but are not married to each other or to anyone else. People in domestic partnerships receive benefits that guarantee right of survivorship , hospital visitation, and others. The term is not used consistently, which results in some inter-jurisdictional confusion. Some jurisdictions, such as Australia , New Zealand , and the U. Other jurisdictions use the term as it was originally coined, to mean an interpersonal status created by local municipal and county governments, which provides an extremely limited range of rights and responsibilities. Some legislatures have voluntarily established domestic partnership relations by statute instead of being ordered to do so by a court. Although some jurisdictions have instituted domestic partnerships as a way to recognize same-sex marriage , statutes do exist which provide for recognition of opposite-sex domestic partnerships in many jurisdictions. In some legal jurisdictions, domestic partners who live together for an extended period of time but are not legally entitled to common-law marriage may be entitled to legal protection in the form of a domestic partnership. Some domestic partners may enter into nonmarital relationship contracts in order to agree, either verbally or in writing, to issues involving property ownership, support obligations, and similar issues common to marriage.
Unexpected Error
In this July 11, file photo, Gov. Gavin Newsom talks with reporters at his office. Legislation to allow all Californians to register as domestic partners instead of marrying was signed into law by Gov. Newsom Tuesday, July 30, Are you considering entering a domestic partnership in California after Jan. Email reporter Sammy Caiola at Samantha. Caiola capradio. She may reach out to interview you or publish parts of your story here.
It is not legal advice. The Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges did not invalidate or change any of the California Family Code sections related to registered domestic partners.