Legislation
State: Maryland
Signed: May 16, 2023
Effective: October 01, 2023
Chapter: 647
Summary
Senate Bill 792 allows two individuals toregister a domestic partnership by filing a declaration of domestic partnership, which must be notarized, with the register of wills in the county in which the domestic partners are domiciled.
Affects
Amends Section 1–101, 1–205, 1–206, 1–208, 3–102 through 3–104, 3–108, 3–201, and 5–104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland Estates and Trusts Article.
Changes
- Requires a registration of domestic partnership to be signed directly by each party, or by another individual, at the express direction of the party and in the party's presence.
- Requires a registration of domestic partnership to be signed in the physical presence of or through communication technology before a Notary Public.
AnalysisAccording to Senate Bill 792's fiscal analysis statement, this bill allows for registered domestic partnerships to have the same effect as marriage under various provisions of the Estates and Trusts Article of the Maryland Code. Among other things, it establishes the requirements that must be met for a domestic partnership to be registered with the register of wills and how the domestic partnership may be terminated and the benefits for which the surviving partner of a registered domestic partnership qualifies. Two individuals may register a domestic partnership by filing a declaration of domestic partnership with the register of wills in the county in which the domestic partners are domiciled. A declaration of domestic partnership filed with the register of wills must be notarized.
Read Senate Bill 792.