Who Can Be Registered Domestic Partners?

Parties must be residents of Palm Beach County. Under the definition provided by the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County, Florida, Ordinance 2006-002, Domestic Partners must meet the following requirements:

• Each party is at least 18 years old and competent to contract;
• Neither party is married, nor a partner to another domestic partnership relationship;
• Each party is the sole domestic partner of the other person;
• Each party is not related to the other by blood;
• Both parties consent to the domestic partnership relationship without force, duress or fraud;
• Both parties agree to be jointly responsible for each other’s basic food, shelter, common necessities of life and welfare;
• Neither party has been a member of another domestic partnership for the past year;
• Each party shares his or her primary residence with the other;
• Each party considers himself/herself to be a member of the immediate family of the other partner.

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Is Domestic Partnership Registration Confidential?

No. When an application for Domestic Partnership Registration is recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, it becomes public record and can be viewed by anyone. Any member of the public can purchase a copy of any public record.

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How Do We Register as Domestic Partners?

1. Download and complete a Domestic Partnership Declaration form. Forms are also available from the Recording Department in Room 4.2500 of the Main Courthouse or from any of our branch locations. You may also complete the Domestic Partnership Application online:

• On the Marriage & Domestic Partnership Kiosk screen, click on “Continue to Domestic Partnership Application” at the bottom
• Complete the information for both parties. Addresses must match for party 1 and party 2.
• You will receive a confirmation page with an Order/Transaction Number.
• Click on Print Screen.
  
  

2. Bring the completed form or the printed confirmation page with the Order/Transaction number to the Recording Department or one of our branch locations, along with the supporting documentation showing proof of mutual residence and joint financial responsibility. Both partners must sign the application in the presence of a Notary Public or Deputy Clerk if bringing the form or confirmation page with the Order/Transaction number in person.

3. If you do not wish to come into the office in person, you can mail the notarized form along with the necessary documentation to Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, P.O. Box 4177, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33402. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with proper payment.

4. To record the Domestic Partnership Declaration with the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office, you must be subject to provisions set forth in Ordinance No. 2006-002, signed and dated by the and Palm Beach County, Florida, by its Board of County Commissioners.

5. For establishing mutual residence, you must provide a copy of one of the following: mortgage or lease showing both names, or government issued photo ID's, driver’s licenses or tax returns showing the same address for both partners for verification.

6. For establishing joint financial responsibility, you must provide a copy of two of the following: mortgage or lease showing both names, statement from joint bank account for both partners, current credit card statement with same account number for both names, vehicle title showing common ownership, beneficiary designation form for a retirement plan or life insurance policy signed and completed to the effect that one domestic partner is the beneficiary of the other, or wills that designate the other as primary beneficiary.

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What Benefits Are Included?

• Health care visitations & decisions
• Funeral/burial decisions
• Notification of family members
• Pre-need guardian designation for incapacitated partners
• Visitation rights at county juvenile detention & correctional facilities

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How Much Does It Cost to Register?

The initial cost for registration is $50.00. This fee includes:

• Recording of four-page Declaration of Domestic Partnership in the Official Record of Palm Beach County
• One (1) Certificate of Registration
• Termination form and Amendment form for subsequent use

If notarization is requested at the time of recording, there will be an additional fee for each signature notarized or signed by a deputy clerk.

Subsequent costs may include:

• Recording of Amended Declaration of Domestic Partnership - $20.00
• Recording of Termination of Domestic Partnership - $20.00
• Additional copy of Certificate of Registration - $5.00
• Domestic Partnership Registration Wallet Cards (optional) - 2 cards for $5.35
• Certified copy of Declaration of Domestic Partnership - $6.00

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Where Can We Register?

If you wish to register in person, you may visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Recording Department at 205 North Dixie Highway, Room 4.2500, West Palm Beach, Florida, or one of our branch locations.

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Where Can We Obtain Forms?

Forms may be downloaded below or obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Recording Department in Room 4.2500 of the Main Courthouse or one of our branch locations.

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Wallet Cards

Domestic Partnership Registration Wallet Cards are available for $5.35 (two cards). These handy cards are available at any Clerk's office location, or order by mail if you already are have a registered domestic partnership.

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Forms

• Declaration of Domestic Partnership
• Amended Declaration of Domestic Partnership
• Declaration of Termination of Domestic Partnership
• Wallet Card Order Form

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How Do We Amend or Terminate Our Registration?

1. Download the appropriate forms from above or check your original registration packet. Amendment and termination forms are included in the original registration packet provided to you at the time of your initial registration.

2. Take your notarized form to Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, 205 North Dixie Highway, Room 4.2500, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401, or to one of our branch locations. Or, mail to Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, P.O. Box 4177, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33402.

3. When terminating the registration, it will be necessary to provide the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller with a copy of the Certified or Registered mailing as proof of service, which may be signed by only one of the registered Domestic Partners. If both partners sign with a notary, the proof of service is not required.

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How Can I View Ordinance 2006-02?

• Ordinance 2006-02

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City of West Palm Beach Domestic Partnership Registry

If my partner and I registered with the City of West Palm Beach Domestic Partnership Registry, do we need to register again?

Section 9 of the Palm Beach County Ordinance calls for reciprocity. All rights, privileges and benefits extended to Registered Domestic Partnerships registered pursuant to this Ordinance are also extended to all persons legally partnered in another jurisdiction.

Thus, if you were registered or otherwise legally established a partnership in another jurisdiction, county entities will recognize your partnership and extend the same rights to you as if you had registered in Palm Beach County. You will not receive a Palm Beach County registration certificate or number unless you choose to register in the Palm Beach County registry.

If you are registered with the City of West Palm Beach, other entities in Palm Beach County, such as a hospital located in the County, but outside the City limits, should extend to you the same benefits as if you were registered with the County. This does not mean you will automatically be included in the County's registry, but you would be entitled to the same rights.

More information on the City of West Palm Beach Domestic Partnership Registry.