Same-sex domestic partnerships are legally recognized under the Oregon Family Fairness Act (OR Rev. Stat. Sec. 106.300et seq.). The law provides that same-sex couples who enter into a domestic partnership will have the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities as married heterosexual couples. Specifically, any privilege, immunity, right, benefit, or responsibility provided under law to a married person or to a person with in-law status is granted on equivalent terms to an individual in a domestic partnership or to a person related by law on the basis of a domestic partnership.
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Download Now Under the Family Fairness Act, a "domestic partnership" is defined as a civil contract entered into in person between two individuals of the same sex who are at least 18 years of age and who are otherwise legally capable of consenting to a civil contract. One of the individuals must be a resident of the state.
The law prohibits domestic partnerships if:
• Either party is married or has a partner,
• The parties are first cousins or any nearer of kin,
• Either party is incapable of making the civil contract or consenting to the contract because of insufficient understanding or lack of legal age, or
• Consent to the contract is obtained by force or fraud.
Individuals entering a domestic partnership must complete and file a "Declaration of Domestic Partnership" form with a county clerk to register the partnership and obtain a certificate of registered domestic partnership. The registry is a public record.