What you need to know...

The City of Oakland defines domestic partnership as a relationship between two cohabitating people unrelated by either blood or marriage, regardless of gender, who are over the age of 18, share the common necessities of life, and have resided together for at least 6 months prior to filing an Affidavit for Domestic Partnership, who share responsibility for the common living expenses of food, shelter, and medical care. One partner must work for the City of Oakland or both parties must live in Oakland to register as domestic partners with the City of Oakland.

Registration of domestic partners is an option many people choose to publicly recognize their relationships instead of marriage. It is often chosen for personal and/or legal reasons.

Registering your domestic partnership is voluntary. The City of Oakland does not intend for registration to automatically create any new or different legal rights or responsibilities or any contractual relationships between the registrants.

Registering your domestic partnership may be beneficial if a company that extends health or other benefits to domestic partners employs you. Domestic partnership registration may allow you to be recognized as your partner's family member, and may allow you to visit your partner in the hospital or jail, under the current state law. Registering as domestic partners will not, however, automatically entitle you to make health care decisions, funeral arrangements or to make any claim on the estate of your partner.

The process of Domestic Partnership Registration is simple. You must meet the following requirements to register as domestic partners with the City of Oakland.

Registration of Domestic Partners is conducted by the Office of the City Clerk. There are two ways to register:

Both partners must appear in person with proof of identity, though the application may be obtained and filled out in advance (the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership must be executed in the presence of the City Clerk or her designee). You must show to the City Clerk or her designee proof of identity by presenting a picture identification card. If both partners live in Oakland, each must show proof of residence within the city limits at the same address, such as utility bill or bank statement

Or

Both partners must appear to a notary Public to sign the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. The Affidavit is then forwarded, with proof of cohabitation (a copy for each partner of a bank statement, utility bill etc) and fee, to the Office of the City Clerk.

A fee for registration is $35. Once you have filed an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership, you will be registered as domestic partners. You will receive a copy of your certificate of domestic partnership at the time of registration or within five (5) working days by mail.

Terminating your Domestic Partnership

You may obtain an application packet to register your domestic partnership from the Office of the City Clerk. You may send a self- addressed stamped envelope to receive your application by mail, or you may pick it up in person at the City Clerk's office.

Please contact the Office of the City Clerk for more information, should you find that you have questions not covered in the registration materials.

We are happy to serve you and wish to make this process simple and affirming of your relationship.