Columbus' New Domestic Partner Registry - FAQ's

As you likely know, on Monday July 30, Columbus City Council passed ordinance 1584-2012 which established a Domestic Partner Registry in the City of Columbus. This action follows-through on the announcement made by Mayor Coleman, Council President Andrew Ginther and Councilmember Zach Klein in June.

In an effort to assist you in communicating this news to your various networks, subscribers, supporters and the like, following is some basic information about the registry:

• The voluntary registry, to be administered by the City Clerk, will allow unmarried couples regardless of sexual orientation to formally register their relationship.
• The registry will help reduce the administrative burden on businesses and public institutions to define and certify the existence a relationship.
• To register, an unmarried couple must file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership and meet the same requirements that City employees must meet to qualify for eligible dependent benefits.
• Alternatively, a couple may present to the Clerk, as proof of their relationship, a government-issued marriage license whether recognized by the State of Ohio or not. (The net effect being that a marriage license from another state will suffice as proof of a relationship, and to the extent allowed by Ohio law, the City of Columbus will recognize that marriage.)
• The unmarried couple need not be residents of Columbus to register their relationship.
• A $50 registration fee will apply to help defray the associated administrative costs.

SPECIAL NOTE:

In November 2010, Columbus City Council approved the extension of employee benefits to certain eligible dependents, including unmarried couples, provided the eligible dependent(s) met certain qualifications. On Monday, July 30, in addition to establishing the Domestic Partner Registry, Council acted to further protect City employee access to eligible dependent benefits. Ordinance 1584-2012 further strengthens the City’s commitment to providing eligible dependent benefits by not only authorizing the director of human resources to extend the benefits, but in fact, directing (requiring) that he or she do so. This change ensures that eligible dependent benefits currently extended to City employees cannot be discontinued without a public vote of City Council.

Additional efforts to publicize the registry will be forthcoming, and a FAQ document is attached. It will soon be adapted for Council’s Web site for access by the interested public.

The City Clerk will begin accepting declarations of Domestic Partnership upon the effective date of the legislation which is August 29, 2012.

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City of Columbus

Domestic Partnership Registry 

Information, Forms & Frequently Asked Questions (Effective date August 29, 2012) Thank you for your interest in the City of Columbus’ Domestic Partner Registry. Attached are Declaration of Domestic Partnership and Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership forms, application procedures and answers to frequently asked questions about this public registry of domestic partnerships. For additional information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (614) 645-7380. As a record of the City of Columbus, the Domestic Partner Registry is a public record and subject to full disclosure under State laws regarding public records. Applications for the Domestic Partner Registry are available at the Columbus City Council website www.columbuscitycouncil.org or by request through the City Clerk’s office at (614) 645-7380. Applications may be submitted in person or via mail. Because original signatures are required for the registry, applications may not be submitted electronically. What are the qualifications for the registry? 1)    A government issued marriage certificate from another state, OR a)  Is not currently married (as recognized under Ohio law) to or legally separated from another person either under statutory or  common law; and b)  Shares responsibility with partner for each others' common welfare; and c)   Is at least eighteen (18) years of age and mentally competent to consent to con tract; and d)  Is financially interdependent with partner, as demonstrated by at least four (4) of the following: • Joint ownership of real estate property or joint tenancy on a residential    lease; or • Joint ownership of an automobile; or • Joint bank or credit account; or • Joint liabilities (e.g., credit cards or loans); or • A will designating the eligible dependent as primary beneficiary; or • A retirement plan or life insurance policy beneficiary designation form designating the eligible dependent as primary beneficiary; or • A durable power of attorney signed to the effect that partners have granted powers to one another. How do I register my domestic partnership?  Please Note:  Applicants must complete the application and have the form notarized prior to submission.    Applying By Mail Forward the original notarized form and $50.00 registration fee payable by check or money order made payable to “Columbus City Treasurer” to: Office of the City Clerk, Attn: Domestic Partner Registry, 90 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215. After processing, applicants will be mailed a personalized certificate, two business card sized certificates, and a copy of the notarized application. (allow up to 30 days for processing) Applying In Person Applicants must submit their $50.00 registration fee by check or money order made payable to “Columbus City Treasurer” to the Columbus City Treasurer’s office on the First floor of City Hall, Rm. 111, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and obtain a receipt.  The receipt from the City Treasurer’s office and the original notarized application form should then be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk, located on the Second Floor of Columbus City Hall, 90 West Broad Street, Rm. 231, Columbus, Ohio, 43215 during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (holidays may affect this schedule).  The application will be time-stamped and submitted for processing.  Applicants will be mailed a personalized certificate, two business card sized certificates and a copy of the notarized application. (allow up to 30 days for processing) What does the registration fee provide?  Accepted applications will receive a certificate, two business card sized certificates and will be listed in the City’s domestic partner registry. (This registry is a public record and may be requested by outside parties. If requested, all of the information, including name and address, is part of the public record.) Additional questions may be directed to the City Clerk’s office at 645-7380 or by e-mail at: cityclerkrequests@columbus.gov.

How to terminate a Registered Domestic Partnership?

Once registered, each member of the Domestic Partnership has a responsibility to report the end of the Domestic Partnership to the City of Columbus so that the registration may be terminated. This may be done by completing the Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership form which is available at the Columbus City Council website at www.columbuscitycouncil.org or upon request at the City Clerk’s office at (614) 645-7380.

There is no cost to file a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership, which can be submitted by mail (Office of the City Clerk, Attn: Domestic Partner Registry, 90 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215) or in person at the same address.  Only one party is required to sign the Notice of Termination; however that party is responsible for sending a copy of the form to the other party, if the other party is still living.

In the event one of the partners is deceased and at such time the remaining partner should wish to register another partnership, a copy of a death certificate or published obituary from a periodical/newspaper is sufficient documentation for the Clerk’s office to list the partnership as terminated in the registry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is either party required to live or work in City of Columbus to register a Domestic Partnership? Is there a geographic restriction for registering a Domestic Partnership?

There is no requirement that either party live or work in the City of Columbus. Any Domestic Partnership that meets the City of Columbus’ criteria may be registered.

Is there a fee to register a Domestic Partnership?

There is a $50 fee to register a Domestic Partnership with the City of Columbus. Fee must be submitted by check or money order made payable to “Columbus City Treasurer”

Will Domestic Partnership information be shared with others?  How can personal information submitted to the City of Columbus be kept confidential?

As a government, the City of Columbus is bound by State laws regarding the disclosure of public records. Information submitted to register a Domestic Partnership is a public record and the City is generally required to provide this information to any media outlet, business, organization or individual that requests it. Except as allowed by State law, there is no method to remove any of the information including an applicant’s name or address from the public record. Individuals may choose to not register their Domestic Partnership and not to share personal information with the City if they wish to limit public access to an applicant’s personal information.

What are the criteria for a Domestic Partnership?

1)   Is not currently married to or legally separated from another person either under statutory

or common law; and

2)  Shares responsibility with partner for each others' common welfare; and

3)  Is at least eighteen (18) years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract; and

4)  Is financially interdependent with partner, as demonstrated by at least four (4) of the following:

• Joint ownership of real estate property or joint tenancy on a residential lease; or

• Joint ownership of an automobile; or

• Joint bank or credit account; or

• Joint liabilities (e.g., credit cards or loans); or

• A will designating the eligible dependent as primary beneficiary; or

• A retirement plan or life insurance policy beneficiary designation form designating the eligible dependent as primary beneficiary; or

• A durable power of attorney signed to the effect that partners have granted powers to one another.

Domestic Partnerships which meet the above criteria may be registered by the parties with the City of Columbus using the application process described above.

When will a Domestic Partnership registration become valid? Is there a waiting period for a Domestic Partnership?

The City of Columbus Domestic Partnership Registry will go into effect on August 29, 2012. No Domestic Partnerships can be registered before that date. After that date, a Domestic Partnership is considered registered when the Clerk enters information into the registry. A Domestic Partnership is valid until a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership is received and filed by the Office of the City Clerk, or upon the death of one of the partners.

Are applicants required to live at the same address full-time to qualify sharing a common address?

Applicants are required to share a common address, but are not required to have only one address. Applicants may have a separate vacation home, investment property, or a second address used in order to live closer to a work site and this does not disqualify applicants from sharing a common address.

How do I receive benefits once a Domestic Partnership has been registered?

You should speak directly to the organization from which you seek to receive a discount or benefit. By itself, the Domestic Partner Registry does not provide any special discounts or access to benefits. It is a tool that domestic partners can choose to show that they are eligible for domestic partner benefits offered by employers or family discounts provided by businesses and organizations. The registry is seen as a way for domestic partners to record their relationships and for businesses and organizations to have a neutrally administered means of qualifying person for benefits or discounts that they may choose to offer. The registry is entirely optional for all parties. No domestic partnership is required to be registered. No company is required to provide discounts or benefits. No company is required to recognize the domestic partner registry as qualification for whatever discounts they may choose to offer.

Does the Domestic Partner Registry take the place of a Power of Attorney for legal matters?

No, the two are not related and one does not take the place of the other for either intended purpose.

Do I need to include any other documents with my application to establish proof?

No, all you need to forward to the office of the City Clerk is the completed, notarized application and fee. Please do not forward additional documentation. 

My question is not answered here. How can I get more information?

Please contact the Office of the City Clerk by phone at 614-645-7380, or by email at cityclerkrequests@columbus.gov.