A. A "domestic partnership" in Nevada is a new type of civil contract which grants domestic partners "... the same rights, protections, benefits, responsibilities, obligations and duties as…parties to any other civil contract..."

Domestic partnerships were established in the 75th Session of the Nevada State Legislature as Senate Bill 283 for the purpose of defining the rights and responsibilities of such partnerships. Although SB 283 includes a requirement that parties in a domestic partnership "Have chosen to share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring," a domestic partnership is not a marriage for the purposes of Section 21 of Article 1 of the Nevada Constitution.

A. The primary qualifications for entering into a domestic partnership are:

• Both parties must be at least 18 years of age;
• Both parties are competent to consent to the partnership;
• The two parties are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being legally married to each other in Nevada;
• Neither party is married or a member of another domestic partnership, except to or with each other in another jurisdiction;
• Both parties share a common residence;
• Both parties sign a declaration that they have chosen to share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring; and
• Both parties desire of their own free will to enter into a domestic partnership

The application contains a declaration that lists the eligibility requirements and by signing the document and having it notarized, each person is acknowledging under penalty of perjury that the above is true and correct.

A. No. As a civil contract, Nevada domestic partnerships may be entered into by couples of any sexual orientation as long as they meet the eligibility requirements defined above.

A. Partners wishing to enter into a domestic partnership must complete and file a notarized declaration of domestic partnership application and the appropriate fees with the Office of the Nevada Secretary of State. Forms are available online at http://www.nvsos.gov/ or at the Secretary of State’s Carson City or Las Vegas offices.

A. No. Since the documents require notarized signatures of both partners, you must complete and submit the application with original signatures.

A. You may hand deliver it to the Secretary of State's Offices in Carson City or Las Vegas.
Carson City: State Capitol, 101 North Carson Street, Suite 3, Carson City
Las Vegas: Grant Sawyer Building, 555 E Washington Ave., Suite 5200, Las Vegas

Or you may mail it to:
Domestic Partnership Registration
555 E. Washington Ave, Suite 5200
Las Vegas, NV 89101

A. Yes, between August 24, 2009 and September 24, 2009, you may pre–file your Declaration for Domestic Partnership. The Secretary of State’s offi ce will make every effort to have certifi cates of domestic partnership available on October 1st for those who filed during the pre–filing period.

A. If a Declaration is pre–filed, the Certificate will be available for pick–up at the Secretary of State's office you designated on the Declaration application on October 1, 2009 between the hours of 8:00am—5:00pm. If it is not requested for pick–up, it will be mailed to you on October 1, 2009.

A. Yes, there is a filing fee of $50 payable by cash, check, debit or credit card. Any application submitted without the fee will be rejected.

A. Checks should be made out to the Secretary of State.

A. You will need to complete a debit/credit card check list which is an authorization to charge the fees to your account. This form can be downloaded at http://www.nvsos.gov.

A. The application will be reviewed and accepted if complete. The filing will be rejected if you fail to leave out required information, if the signatures of both parties are not properly notarized or if the appropriate fees are not submitted.

If your filing is complete and meets the requirements, the Secretary of State's office will issue you a Certificate of Registered Domestic Partnership.

A. You will receive a return letter indicating the reason for its rejection such as missing or illegible information, missing or incorrect filing fees or un–notarized signatures.

A. The certificate may be picked up at the designated Secretary of State's office as specified on the Declaration application. If you do not select “pick–up”, the Certificate will be mailed to the mailing address provided on the application.

A. A file stamped copy of the declaration may be requested at the time you file your Declaration application if you file in person at either of the Secretary of State's offices in Carson City or Las Vegas — staff permitting.

A. Yes, there is a $5 charge.

A. Yes, 2 hour expedite processing is available by appointment only.

A. Yes, it is an additional $100.

A. Yes, for an additional fee of $15, a "ceremonial" copy of the Certificate on special bond paper affixed with the Nevada silver state seal, suitable for framing is available.

You may request it at the time of filing a Declaration or at a later date.

A. Yes, under NRS 239.010, a Certificate of Registered Domestic Partnership is open to public inspection.

A. Domestic partnerships may be terminated in two ways.

1. By filing a signed and notarized "Domestic Partnership Termination Form" at the Carson City or Las Vegas office of the Secretary of State, and paying a $50 termination fee

In order to terminate the partnership through this simplified termination proceeding, the parties must meet all of the following conditions:

• Be registered as domestic partners for five years or less
• Have no minor children
• A female member of the domestic partnership, to her knowledge, may not be pregnant
• Have no executed agreement as to the custody of any children and the amount and manner or their support;
• Have no community or joint property, or have an executed agreement as to the disposition of such property
• Have waived any right to future support or have an executed agreement setting forth the amount and manner of any such support
• Have waived the right to conduct a more comprehensive proceedings pursuant to chapter 125 of NRS.

2. For termination of domestic partnerships that do not meet all of the above conditions partners are required to follow procedures set forth in Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 125.

A. Yes, the termination fee is $50.

A. A file stamped copy of the termination form may be requested at the time you file your Declaration application if you file in person at either of the Secretary of State's offices in Carson City or Las Vegas — staff permitting.

A. Yes, there is a $5 charge.

A. There is no requirement for performing any type of ceremony, religious or otherwise, to enter into this type of domestic partnership contract. It is the choice of respective religious faiths and the parties to the contract to determine the appropriateness of any such ceremony.

A. There is no requirement that a public or private employer provide health care benefits to a domestic partner. This does not, however, prohibit an employer from voluntarily providing health care benefits to a domestic partner as deemed appropriate by the employer and the partners. See SB 283 for additional explanation.

A. As described in Senate Bill 283, domestic partners have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and are subject to the same responsibilities, obligations and duties under law that are granted to and imposed upon married spouses.

The Secretary of State's office cannot advise couples on the legal and financial implications of domestic partnership. Couples considering registration should consult with their private attorneys and personal financial advisors.

A. Other than in the case of a marriage, for a domestic partnership to be recognized in Nevada it is necessary to be registered with the Nevada Secretary of State in compliance with the aforementioned provisions of SB 283.

A. No, there is no requirement that a person changes his/her name when entering into a domestic partnership under SB 283. If they choose to do so, two individuals that have filed a Domestic Partnership certifi cate may initiate a name change with the appropriate entity which allowing for a name change. Whether those entities accept the Domestic Partnership Certificate for processing the name change is up to the rules and guidelines of that entity. Further, because SB 283 is State law, it is not within the Office's jurisdiction to determine or require federal agencies to process a name change based on the Domestic Partnership certificate.

Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 41.270 provides additional guidance on proceedings to change names of natural persons.

A. No, the partnership registration does not have to be amended. If you would like a new certificate depicting the legally–changed names of the partner(s), you may file a name change amendment for $15 which includes a black and white certificate. Ceremonial certifi cates are an additional $15.