Domestic Partnership Forms Available Today

Chuck Sheketoff

At 4:52 PM today, the Oregon Department of Human Services emailed an announcement about how to obtain forms and making clear they are available today:

Feb. 1, 2008

General contact: Ken Palke, 503-947-5286
Program contact: Jennifer Woodward, 971-673-1185

Declaration of Domestic Partnership forms available starting February 1

The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) will make domestic partnership declaration forms available starting February 1, following today's federal court ruling that allows Oregon's domestic partnership law to go into effect.

Forms are on the Web at DHS Vital Records Web site. They also will be available at county clerks' offices throughout the state starting February 1, said Jennifer Woodward, state registrar in the DHS Public Health Division. County clerk office locations are listed in the white pages of the telephone book under the County Government section.

After February 1, forms can be obtained via mail from the DHS Center for Health Statistics, Attn: Mary Ann Jensen, 800 N.E. Oregon St., Suite 225, Portland, OR 97232; or requested via e-mail at [email protected].

Completed, signed and notarized forms can be registered at any county clerk's office. Certified copies of declarations filed at the county can be purchased when they are filed or any time after the declaration is registered. People should contact the county clerk's office for fee information, according to Woodward.

County clerks will send registered Declaration of Domestic Partnership forms to the DHS Center for Health Statistics on a monthly basis, where they will be filed as vital records.

Certified vital record copies of declarations filed at the Center for Health Statistics can be purchased by family members, legal representatives, or persons or organizations with a personal or property right. Cost is $20 for a first copy and $15 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

Woodward advises individuals to allow six weeks after the record is registered with the County Clerk to allow time for the record to be transferred to the Center for Health Statistics and entered into the vital records system.

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Who said government is inefficient? They were ready for the court decision and they acted promptly.


  • PeteJacobsen (unverified)
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    I read the form (and the FAQ) carefully. It appears there is no requirement for a social security number or any evidence or claim of legal residence. Also, since it is a "vital record", there are significant restrictions on who can see the record.

    Am I right that it is allowed to become a domestic partner with someone who is not a legal resident of this country?

  • Bob R. (unverified)
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    Am I right that it is allowed to become a domestic partner with someone who is not a legal resident of this country?

    I don't know enough about the domestic partner statute to answer that question, but it is NOT a requirement of heterosexual couples who wish to marry. You can marry a foreign national if you want -- heck, you can even marry a child molester or a terrorist -- no restrictions.

    But gay people apparently are too icky to be allowed to get married, and any time gay people claim just a shred of equality, someone comes forward complaining about some random thing, in this case, icky foreigners. Good going.

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    Pete, I certainly hope so, and don't see any reason why it shouldn't be so. Is it not allowed for persons who are not legal residents of this country to get married here? Is SS# required for that?

  • Gordon Morehouse (unverified)
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    Dugg for justice.

    http://digg.com/politics/Oregon_Domestic_Partnership_Forms_Available_NOW

  • (Show?)

    "Am I right that it is allowed to become a domestic partner with someone who is not a legal resident of this country?"

    Here it is again: the ever-shifting subversions of those who seek special relationship rights exclusively for heterosexuals, such as the right to legal partnership with whomever one chooses.

    As the right-wing works to fire its base up over GLBT domestic partnerships in the upcoming elections - and they will - do not forget these quotes from the Ballot Measure 36 Campaign which blocked gay marriage, and led Oregon to the currently separate, if equal, situation we have now.

    "Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions." -- Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign, Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004

    "If same-sex couples need legal protection, they should consult their legislative representatives. If they need legislation to do that, no one is going to stand in their way." -- Defense of Marriage Coalition Executive Director Mike White, Lincoln City News Guard 11/10/2004

    "The Coalition's amendment did not preclude the state of Oregon from creating civil unions, so that same-sex couples could have the same rights as married heterosexual couples." -- Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice, The Dalles Chronicle 9/30/2004

    As of 4:25pm yesterday, GLBT Oregonians finally have the "same rights as married heterosexual couples" which the Oregon Family Council and Defense of Marriage Coalition to us to seek. I choose to believe that integrity on the part of some OFC and DOMC members, in line with the statements above, is the reason why the petition to refer our basic rights out for yet another public vote failed to gather enough signatures to make the ballot.

    The right-wing is deeply divided over GLBT equality. There are many conservatives who understand basic fairness, even if they're still working to understand their GLBT neighbors, now that they know we're there.

  • liberalincarnate (unverified)
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    -Leo,

    I prefer to think of Conservatives as freaks and just plain EVIL. It is easier that way. Let God sort them out. :)

  • Ed Bickford (unverified)
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    Consigning conservatives to the ranks of "evil freaks" is really just resorting to their tactics. I hope demonizing them brings you satisfaction but it surely gives you no claim to moral superiority.

    There is a human explanation for their actions which can lead to understanding them, though not liking them, probably.

    It is the classic conservative ploy of demeaning swathes of society so as to be able to use them as a human staircase in their pursuit of ever-higher status for themselves. They are not demonic, but small-minded people drunk on the greed inspired by their undeserved riches. The good news is that they will never be happy! Can you?

  • Oregon Bill (unverified)
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    The right-wing is deeply divided over GLBT equality. There are many conservatives who understand basic fairness

    But if they are religious conservatives, they have (often) swallowed whole ridiculous, fairy tale assertions like "my god hates lesbians." So then they are confused - yes, our state and federal constitutions guarantee equal protection. That's FAIR.

    But wait - "my god hates lesbians!" So, lesbians aren't worth as much as I am, so as a Christian, Catholic, Mormon, Protestant, I guess I'm...more equal? So I should have more rights and benefits offered by the state - more than lesbians!

    But wait, the American ideal is equal protection.
    And didn't my god used to hate Blacks?

    I'm so prejudiced, I mean religious - and so confused.

    And you've made a legal mess for your fully human, gay and lesbian neighbors, co-workers, family members and friends (and your god is a prejudicial fairy tale, too).

  • (Show?)

    Call it karma, market cycle, dialectic, or the second law of thermodynamics, but demonization only wins battles, not wars. And I'd rather win than call people names.

  • Oregon Bill (unverified)
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    Call it karma, market cycle, dialectic, or the second law of thermodynamics, but demonization only wins battles, not wars. And I'd rather win than call people names.

    Right. Demonizing gays and lesbians and our families as less equal than your own - and because your imaginary goddess tells you we're immoral - won't work in the end.

    We're real people, flesh and blood, and evidence-free religious efforts to diminish our families will ultimately be trumped by the American promise of equality for all.

  • (Show?)

    Uh, Bill. I'm gay too, as well as very politically active along with my ten-year partner. I simply disagree with your extremist approach.

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