Video: Gulfport Mayor Signs Domestic Partnership Registry into Law

On Tuesday night, Gulfport City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance creating a domestic partnership registry in the city.

About the ordinance:

The domestic partnership registry is modeled after the Orlando ordinance with elements of the Key West ordinance. The fee is $25 per couple and does not require both people to sign the declaration in the presence of the city clerk. The couple may drop off or mail in a notarized declaration.

It specifies the following rights and legal effects:

• Health Care Facility Visitation
• Health Care Decisions
• Funeral/burial Decisions
• Notification of Family Members
• Preneed guardian designation
• Participation in Education

According to the ordinance, domestic partners are two adults who have chosen to share one another's lives in a family relationship. Two persons are considered to be domestic partners if:

• They consider themselves to be members of each other's immediate family.
• They agree to be jointly responsible for each other's welfare.
• Neither of them is married under the laws of the State of Florida, is a member of another domestic partnership, or civil union with anyone other than the co-applicant.
• They are not blood related in a way that would prevent them from being married to each other under Florida state law.
• Each is at least 18 years of age and competent to contract.
• They each have signed a declaration of domestic partnership as provided for in section 26-45.

The following video is provided by the City of Gulfport.