HB 573 - Domestic Partners Summary

• Establishes a statewide domestic partnership registry allowing two people to file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with circuit court clerks for a $30 filing fee plus additional fees totaling $59.50.

• Grants domestic partners legal rights equivalent to spouses in health care decisions, visitation rights in hospitals and correctional facilities, property ownership, anatomical gifts, funeral arrangements, and body disposition matters.

• Prohibits domestic partnerships if either party is already married, in another domestic partnership, or is a relative by blood; requires parties to be at least 18 years old and share a mutual residence with at least one being a Florida resident.

• Allows domestic partnerships to be terminated by filing a Notice of Termination with the clerk, effective 90 days after filing and payment of a $10 fee; automatically terminates if either party marries another person or dies.

• Deposits domestic partnership registration fees into the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and Displaced Homemaker Trust Fund; effective July 1, 2015.