Tampa’s Domestic Partnership Registry Goes Into Effect
On June 25, 2012, the City of Tampa opened up its Domestic Partnership Registry for applications. This allows for committed same sex and unmarried heterosexual couples to have expanded rights, such as the following:
- Healthcare visitation for partners and dependents of partners;
- Healthcare decision-making for incapacitated partners;
- Funeral and burial decisions for partners;
- Notification of partners as family members in cases of emergency;
- Pre-need guardian designation will not be denied based solely on being homosexual; and
- Participation in education decisions for the partner’s dependent children.
Related: Five Legal Steps Florida LGBT Parents Should Take
[Related: In A Florida Child Custody Case, Does It Matter That I Am Gay?]
[Related: In Which County Should I File My Florida Adoption Case?]
To sign up for the registry, couples must go to the Office of the City Clerk, located at 315 East Kennedy Boulevard, Third Floor, Tampa, Florida 33602. Registration is open from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., though beginning July 9 registration hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
