Since 2005, registered domestic partners (RDPs) in California have had many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage — but not all of them. The law changed again at the start of 2006. Now more than ever, it's important that you take the proper legal steps to define and protect your relationship and yourself in the eyes of the law. If you don't become RDPs, you run the risk of being shut out of each other's lives in times of medical, financial or personal crisis. But if you do become RDPs, you will assume many of the community property obligations of married couples.

Our firm can help you:

• make practical decisions about living together
• obtain domestic partner benefits
• make medical decisions for each other when needed
• take care of each other's finances when one partner is incapacitated
• leave property to each other
• define your financial relationship, rather than let yourself be governed by California's community property laws
• evaluate if you need a partnership property agreement — and if so, assist you in properly preparing and executing one

California's new law is a big change for registered domestic partners. Because this is a complex and frequently changing body of law — which can have serious personal and financial implications — we encourage you to seek our advice concerning your rights and responsibilities under this law, and to let us help you take control of how your relationships are structured.

FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR ESTIMATE, CONTACT US ONLINE OR CALL US AT 760-346-3355 OR TOLL-FREE AT 888-220-7272.