California law recognizes the right of unmarried adults to form committed personal
relationships and to regulate those relationships voluntarily by agreement. Such relationships
have come to be known and recognized in society, by businesses and by government as
domestic partnerships. By common understanding, the term "domestic partnership" refers
to a relationship between two adults of the same or different sexes which is characterized
by mutual interdependence and an abiding concern for each other's well-being. Domestic
partners generally share a common household and share financial responsibility for
their joint household expenses. They frequently own property together and often authorize
each other to act on each other's behalf in emergency circumstances.
Census data have shown that unmarried couples constitute an increasing proportion
of American households, including those within Los Angeles County. As domestic partnerships
have become more prevalent among individuals who reside or are employed within the
county, a corresponding need has arisen on the part of persons in such relationships
and on society's part generally for a means for such persons to give public notice
of their relationships. Such notice can assist government, the partners' employers,
medical personnel, and the partners' other family members and friends by informing
them of the partners' shared intent to be recognized as domestic partners.
The county of Los Angeles recognizes the important public service that will be rendered
by creation of a public registry for any resident of or person employed in the county
who wishes to make his or her domestic partnership status a matter of public record.
The county clerk presently has authority to maintain all records which are filed or
deposited in his or her office pursuant to law. The purpose of the ordinance codified
in this chapter is to authorize the county clerk to create a domestic partnership
registry by establishing a filing system to maintain statements of domestic partnership
for public inspection.
(Ord. 99-0021 § 1 (part), 1999.)
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