Prior to legalizing same-sex marriages on May 15, 2008, California had  Domestic Partnerships, which were used for civil unions between same-sex couples.  On November 5, 2008 - just one day after the November 4th ballot - Prop 8 effectively put a stop to same-sex marriages.  Domestic Partnerships are the only other way a same-sex couple can have a civil union and be entitled to rights at the State level.

The state of California allows Domestic Partnerships, which is very similar to being married! From California Family Law Code Section 297.5(a):

    Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights,
     protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the
     same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under the
     law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative
     regulations, court rules, government policies, common
     law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are
     granted to and imposed upon spouses.

To read the Family Law code for California Domestic Partnerships, click here.

We can prepare your Domestic Partnership Declaration and send it off to Sacramento for recording, AND provide a commitment ceremony here in our office chapel area for just $199 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (prices are higher weeknights, weekends & holidays). DVD and/or webcasting and/or storing the ceremony on our website for viewing by your friends & family are optional and cost extra. 

In order to qualify for a Domestic Partnership, you need to meet these requirements:

    - Both persons have a common residence.
    - Neither person is married to someone else or is a member
      of another domestic partnership with someone else that
      has not been terminated, dissolved or adjudged a nullity.
    - Both persons are not related by blood in a way that would 
      prevent them from being married to each other in this state.
    - Both persons are at least 18 years of age.
    - Both persons are members of the SAME sex (members of the
      opposite sex have additional requirements for Domestic
      Partnerships).
    - Both persons are capable of consenting to the domestic
      partnership.
    - Both persons consent to the jurisdiction of the Superior
      Courts of California for the purpose of a proceeding to
      obtain a judgment of dissolution or nullity of the domestic
      partnership or for legal separation of partners in the
      domestic partnership, or for any proceeding related to the
      partner's rights and obligations, even if one or both
      partners ceases to be a resident of, or maintain a domicile
      in, this state.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:

    - Valid ID (Driver's License from any state, DMV ID Card,
      or Passport from any country).  All ID's must be current
      (unexpired), have your photo and signature on them, and
      can NOT be temporary or interrim ID's.