On Domestic Partnerships....

As some of you may know, me and my fiancée are filing for a Domestic Partnership. Since California has decided that same sex couples are not aloud to marry and we don't condone that definition, we decided to get a Civil Union. Well, after several e-mails back and forth with the County Clerk:


Me: November 23, 2008

Me and my fiancée were looking at the San Francisco website and
found no place to apply for an opposite sex civil union.

We were hoping to find the forms or the process we need to go through.

I realize this may not be the right department to go to, but if you could
pass it along to the right one we would be most appreciative.

County Clerk: November 24, 2008

Hello,

In California, we do not have civil unions.

For opposite sex couples, we have marriage. If you would like to get
married, please make your marriage license appointment and civil ceremony
appointment through our online reservation systems.

https://services.sfgov.org/clkmarlic/start.asp?ID=GBURGZQAXEHRYAHGFTULHQPSMCGQSRWUKBYQDUOZWCMFOCFUJA

https://services.sfgov.org/ceremony/start.asp?ID=VUZWQEKRSDVYHIGXZGWCMKUORRYCGIVDVXPWZTJLBPGPRLMURH


You may also call 311 for additional assistance. From San Francisco, dial
311 (Voice/TTY) toll free. From outside San Francisco, dial (415) 701-2311
(Voice/TTY). TTY direct (415) 701-2323. Or you may visit their website at
www.sfgov.org/311

PLEASE NOTE: County Clerk Fee Increases Effective August 15, 2008
http://www.sfgov.org/site/countyclerk_page.asp?id=5555

Me: November 24, 2008

You don't have an alternative for those looking to register their coupling with the state without having a theology imposed upon them?

Marriage implies a religion and we feel that the state has no right to establish any religion. There's no way to have a secular union in the state of California?

Sincerely,
Dylan Cassard

County Clerk's office: November 24, 2008

Due the unusually high volume of messages to the County Clerk email box, we
cannot respond to your inquiry at this time. Answers to the majority of
inquiries can be found on the City's main webpage at www.sfgov.org.

Visit the County Clerk homepage at www.sfgov.org/countyclerk for questions
regarding marriage license requirements, marriage ceremonies, fictitious
business name statements, notary oaths, authentication of notary
signatures, professional registrations, and all other non-judicial legal
filings.

Visit sfgov.org/courts for answers to questions regarding divorce, traffic
citations, case files, docket numbers, and jury duty.

Visit sfgov.org/dph for answers to questions regarding birth and death
certificates.

Visit sfgov.org/assessor for answers to questions regarding property
records and certified copies of public marriage certificates.

Visit sfgov.org/treasurer for answers to questions regarding business tax
registration.

County Clerk: November 25, 2008

Hello,

Three things must happen for you to be legally married in California.

1. Unmarried male and unmarried female must purchase a California
marriage license,
2. A ceremony (religious or civil) must take place in California within
90 days of purchasing the marriage license, and
3. The ceremony must be performed by authorized person.

A civil ceremony implies no religion. In California, we have marriage, not
civil unions.

You may also call 311 for additional assistance. From San Francisco, dial
311 (Voice/TTY) toll free. From outside San Francisco, dial (415) 701-2311
(Voice/TTY). TTY direct (415) 701-2323. Or you may visit their website at
www.sfgov.org/311

PLEASE NOTE: County Clerk Fee Increases Effective August 15, 2008
http://www.sfgov.org/site/countyclerk_page.asp?id=5555

We seem to be at a speed bump. I can only assume it is because I kept saying "civil union" and not "domestic partnership" because it seems like it would have been the County Clerk's duty to inform us of San Francisco Administrative Code CHAPTER 62 SEC. 62.1 on DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

SEC. 62.1. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this ordinance is to create a way to recognize intimate committed relationships, including those of same-sex couples who otherwise may be denied the right to marry under California law, and to afford to domestic partners, to the fullest extent legally possible, the same rights, benefits, responsibilities, obligations, and duties as spouses. All costs of registration must be covered by fees to be established by ordinance.

If they make an expressed point to state "same-sex couples" seems that opposite sex couples are entitled to them as well.If this is the case, we're doing all the research we can to see exactly what we are entitled to as domestic partners.


Interestingly enough, our partnership would be recognized by Oakland, Berkley, Ann Arbor all of Oregon, Washington and Washington D.C.

~~~~~~~~~~~EDIT~~~~~~~~~~~~

County Clerk: December 8, 2008

Hello,



California Domestic Partnership Program is administered by the Secretary of
State and not our office. Your email did not provide enough details to
determine your eligibility for SRDP.



If you are an opposite sex couple and you are applying for a marriage
license and have a ceremony performed, you will be legally married.



San Francisco Domestic Partnership Registration is available to any couple
regardless of gender or age. This is a local program and may or may not be
recognized by the State or any other jurisdiction.

I really don't think they even read these e-mails.