A state registered domestic partnership is a relationship between two adults that grants them the legal rights, benefits, and protections that they would have if they married — for example, inheritance and community property rights, among many others. Prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Washington in 2012, the domestic partner relationship was available for same-sex couples as well as opposite-sex couples where one of the members of the opposite-sex couple was older than 62. As of June 30, 2014, all the existing domestic partnerships in Washington automatically converted to marriage, except for those where at least one of the partners was 62 years of age or older.1
- For more information, see the Secretary of State’s webpage for frequently asked questions about domestic partnerships ↩