NJ Gov. Signs Domestic Partnership Act

January 12, 2004

TRENTON—Governor James E. McGreevey signed New Jersey's domestic partner bill in a ceremony this afternoon. It will become law in 180 days, allowing the state time to prepare for the changes.

The Senate passed the legislation Thursday.

Under the new law, same-sex couples will be granted the right to collect the public pensions of deceased partners, guaranteed hospital visitation during illnesses, and qualify to receive health benefits in a partner's name.

It will not, however, make gay couples eligible for any of the federal benefits of marriage, nor would it give partners the same property rights as married spouses or many child custody rights and obligations heterosexual couples have. It also will not force businesses to offer health coverage to same-sex partners of employees but would require insurance companies to make it available.

To obtain domestic-partner status, a couple would have to share a residence and show proof of joint financial status or property ownership or designation of the partner as the beneficiary in a retirement plan or will.

A divorce-like proceeding in Superior Court would be necessary to end a domestic partnership.

Even though the law does not become official until spring it is already beginning to have an effect.

Gay activists in New Jersey say the domestic partner law will attract gay couples from neighboring states to move there.