Civil Partnerships

Hi everyone

As some of you maybe aware the UK is allowing gay couples to register their relationships through a Civil Partnership ceremony, which is very similar to a Wedding ceremony.

I was just wondering whether the city of New York allows this and if so, do you know where I can get information on this.

Many thanks for your help.

Civil Partnerships

Answer: No.

If you live here, you can register as domestic partners, but it does not really give you much. It permits couples to visit each other in jail, visit each other in hospital emergency and ICU rooms as a married spouse would, and things like that.

Most people are under the mistaken impression that it gives same sx couple moe than that, such as health insurance coverage and real estate rights.

People believe this because the doemstic partnership certificate is REQUIRED as PROOF of relationship when requesting health insurance coverage at the workplace, or buying or renting property together. It is a tool or vehicle, not the granter of rights itself.

If one%26#39;s job does not offer insurance coverage to same-sx partners, the certificate is not worth the $36 you pay for it. (By the way, a marriage license is $35.)

Many large private firms already offer same-sx partner insurance coverage, but may require the certificate, plus other proof of co-habitaiton and expenses, more so than a married couple.

The city government recently stopped requiring proof of shared residency and shared expenses (such as an electric bill or joint bank account) for covering its employees who are in same-sx couples, since it does not require that sort of proof for married couples. Now, the city requires only the D.P. certificate, much like it only requires the marriage license.

The courts in NY State just rejected a claim that same-sx marriage should be legalized:

www.freedomtomarry.org/node.asp?id=3550

Civil Partnerships

It should be noted that, if a same-sx couple is legally married in their home coutry, such as the Netherlands or now the UK, then NYC will recognize it as a marriage, and provide automatic legal recognition as such. (Regarding real estate inheritance, etc.)

However, this will not help you regarding US residency or citizenship, sinse the US federal government will not recognize the marriage as legit.

Not sure if it means you don%26#39;t have to testify against your spouse in court, though...

Confused yet?

Thanks for replying to my post. Very confused, but at least I now know the answer is no. Thank you for taking the time to reply though.

black lipstick