Picture this: you’re living the chic life, establishing your career and discovering the world around you. You’ve finally found ‘the one.’ You both feel the pull of fate and decide to live together. Now comes the question of how to make that union official. For some, this leads to the altar, although this route isn’t for everyone. Enter stage left: the all-important laws governing domestic partnerships in Florida.
So, what is a domestic partnership in Florida? As the Law Offices of Mark A. Lichtenstein explains, it can be defined as two individuals who may be legally recognized as part of the same household. Just like a marriage, partners are “coupled” based on a commitment they make to one another.
At its core, a domestic partnership aims to provide the individuals with the same legal rights and claims as a married couple. In addition to these rights, a registered domestic partnership can impact elements of your budget. For instance, filing separate tax returns is often more financially beneficial to the couple than filing jointly.
Filing tax returns separate can save you money when it comes to many areas of life as a couple. Health care is another area where you might see savings. While it was once a foregone conclusion to have one partner add the other to their employer’s insurance, today’s upwardly mobile career seekers are often enrolled in a variety of healthcare plans. Under domestic partnership laws in Florida, you may find that it’s possible to choose the plan that works best for you.
Not only does a domestic partnership provide you with the right to make medical decisions on behalf of your partner; it also serves as a consideration when driving a covered vehicle. If a car accident were to take your partner’s life, domestic partnership laws in Florida would allow you to sue the responsible third party for wrongful death and ask for damages. With any luck, this is an outcome that you’ll never have to experience. However, if it does happen, knowing that you’ll have the legal capacity to act on behalf of your partner can help you to sleep better at night.
You don’t need to have a fancy degree to understand the importance of employment rights when living together in a committed relationship. When considering domestic partnership laws in Florida, it’s essential to get a handle on the ways in which employment can be impacted. For example, if one partner receives a promotion, the trajectory of one career might be perceived as having an impact on the other. The spouse may also have a say concerning the domestic partner’s job-related expenses.
Make no mistake about it: domestic partnership laws in Florida introduce a layer of complexity in estate planning. Why is this the case? Simply put, it’s because even if you’ve chosen to form a domestic partnership, there’s still a chance that you’ll want to add a live-in romantic partner to your will, estate plan, or trust. This leads to a scenario in which two different documents could create disputes when it comes down to what happens to the named assets in the event of your death.
If budgeting and style are your top concerns, you’ll be happy to know that there are affordable options for advice and counsel. The cost of domestic partnership registration will vary depending on the location, but luckily, you don’t need to consult an expensive attorney to understand your options. Instead, you can contact the Domestic Partner Recognition Project to get all the details you need to make an informed decision.
While you might expect domestic partnership laws in Florida to work exactly like marriage laws, there are some notable differences. For example, if you choose to break up, the dissolution of domestic partnership laws in Florida is not as simple as a divorce. Additionally, due to the fact that domestic partners aren’t recognized in the same way that married couples are, a domestic partnership could be deemed illegitimate if it were at any time deemed a sham marriage. This means that the burden of proof falls on domestic partners to show that they have a legitimate relationship.
In many situations, couples don’t realize that they aren’t legally considered domestic partners. For instance, you may believe that simply by signing the paperwork, you’re protected under domestic partnership laws in Florida. However, the truth is that you also need to file the forms with the circuit court.
Who says that a lifestyle of style has to come with a hefty price tag? Even amid the complexity of domestic partnership laws in Florida, there are still opportunities to enjoy the perks of domestic partnerships without purchasing designer clothes. Plan activities at home that allow you to enjoy your time together without the expense of going out. Over time, you may be surprised by the amount that you’ll save simply by making lifestyle adjustments.
Even if you understand your financial state before choosing to become domestic partners, it’s important to keep in mind that this state can change over time. For example, what happens if one of you decides that you want to buy a house? If this were to happen, you might choose to use some of your joint savings to purchase a new home in either partner’s name. Unfortunately, this could cause problems regarding ownership should you choose to part ways down the line. You could sue for unjust enrichment, but the outcome is not guaranteed.
Myth: Domestic partnership laws in Florida aren’t the same as marriage laws. Fact: Domestic partnerships aren’t the same as marriages. While there are indeed many similarities, there are also several key differences. For instance, domestic partnerships are not a right under federal law; instead, they’re a privilege.
Finally, for all those things you need to do to become a domestic partner, you’ll also need to follow some simple steps to end your domestic partnership.