WA State Domestic Partnership in Effect

July 23, 2007

OLYMPIA—Washington state's domestic partner law went into effect Monday, allowing same and opposite-sex couples to register their relationships and receive some of the state-sanctioned benefits of marriage.

People, mainly gay and lesbian couples, began lining up overnight at the Secretary of State's office. Other couples opted to register by mail.

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the legislation in April, nearly a year after the state Supreme Court upheld Washington's ban on same-sex marriage.

The law gives couples who register hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.

To registered couples must pay a $50 fee and be able to prove they share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else, and be at least 18.

The restriction for unmarried couples are more restrictive. One partner must be at least 62. Lawmakers said that provision was included to help seniors who are at risk of losing pension rights and Social Security benefits if they remarry.

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