California Family Code permits same sex couples to register as domestic partners. A domestic partnership provides nearly all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage, including the legal obligations assumed by couples in regard to each other and any children who are a party to the relationship.

The Los Angeles Domestic Partnership Lawyers at the Law Office of Mitchell A. Jacobs have the knowledge and experience necessary to assist clients with the formation or dissolution of domestic partnerships in California. Legally recognized domestic partnerships must be registered with the State of California through the Secretary of State’s Office. Both partners must be over the age of 18 and must share a common residency at the time of registration.

Domestic partnerships that end in dissolution usually involve a judgment in Family Court. Both will also be subjected to the residency requirements and the mandatory waiting period of a standard divorce. Domestic partners have the same rights to community property as married spouses. Marital property should be evenly divided and one partner may request financial support from the other, just as a spouse may request alimony.

Determinations on child custody, support and visitation should also follow similar guidelines. However, the “best interest of the child” standards, as it pertains to domestic partnerships, may vary significantly. Because domestic partnerships are new from a legal standpoint, much of the case law is not available as it is in deciding custody cases involving married spouses.

The Los Angeles Domestic Partnership Attorneys at the Law Office of Mitchell A. Jacobs have built a reputation as one of the area’s leading family law firms. Mitchell A.Jacobs achieved board certification as a Family Law Specialist in 1986 – a level of excellence obtained by fewer than 1 in 200 California family law attorneys. For the past 30 years, our firm has been focused on providing some of the best legal representation available in California and the Los Angeles area.

If you need to speak with a family law attorney in California or Los Angeles about the creation or dissolution of a domestic partnership, contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Jacobs for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights.