The City of St. Petersburg's domestic partner registry is now up and running. It will allow domestic partners to register with the city and gain certain basic rights including the right to be present in health care facilities and direct care for their partner, to make decisions regarding burials, visit partners at city correctional facilities, participate in the education of their partners children, be notified in case of an emergency, and direct their partners financial matters during times of duress.
To register in St. Petersburg, partners can come to the City Clerks Office, Monday thru Wednesday, located on the first floor of City Hall at 175 Fifth Street North, during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a $30 registration fee payable in cash, check or money order.
Both parties must be present with photo identification to register. No registrations take place on Thursdays or Fridays due to council meetings.
Partners should still prepare a last will and testament naming each other as the beneficiaries of their estates because the registry will not act as a testamentary statement in the event of death, it only allows a partner to direct the funeral. In addition, a domestic partnership agreement is also recommended because the registry will not resolve disputes of ownership of real or personal property. If you want more information on estate planning or domestic partner contracts, contact Scott and Fenderson, PA
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