Domestic partnership in Maine

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Domestic partnerships were established in the state of Maine by statute in April 2004^[1], taking effect on 30 July 2004. This placed Maine in the category of U.S. states that offer limited recognition of same-sex relationships, but not all of the legal protections of marriage. On May 6, 2009, the state enacted a law to allow same-sex marriage in Maine,^[2][3] but the law was subsequently repealed by 52.8% of Maine voters on November 3, 2009.^[4] Maine's domestic partnership law remains in effect.

According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, "It is important to remember that a registered domestic partnership is NOT the same as a marriage and does not entitle partners to rights other than those for which the registry was intended. This registry is intended to allow individuals to have rights of inheritance as well as the rights to make decisions regarding disposal of their deceased partners remains."^[5]

Rights of domestic partners

According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services,^[6]

P.L. 2003, c. 672, enacted by the Legislature and signed into law on April 28, 2004, establishes the concept of domestic partners in Maine law. Under the law, registered domestic partners are accorded a legal status similar to that of a married person with respect to matters of probate, guardianships, conservatorships, inheritance, protection from abuse, and related matters. The legislation establishes a Domestic Partner Registry housed within the Office of Health Data and Program Management, Bureau of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Furthermore, according to the Human Rights Campaign, registered domestic partners in Maine "can inherit a deceased partner’s property if he or she dies without a will, make funeral and burial arrangements, be named a guardian or conservator if their partner becomes incapacitated, be named a representative to administer a deceased partner’s estate and make organ and tissue donations. Same-sex partners are also explicitly protected in the state’s domestic violence laws."^[7]

Registration

To register as domestic partners in Maine, both parties must be mentally competent adults, must have been legally domiciled together in Maine for the preceding 12 months, must not be within prohibited degrees of consanguinity, and must not be married to, or in a domestic partnership with someone else. Opposite-sex couples who meet these requirements may also register as domestic partners; as of 2006^[update], at least 24% of partnerships in the registry (17 of 70) were believed to be between opposite-sex partners.^[8]

Couples can register by sending a signed and notarized form to the Office of Vital Statistics in Augusta. Domestic partnerships in Maine are automatically terminated if one party marries someone else. They can also be terminated after 60 days by filing a declaration of mutual consent, signed by both parties; or by one party, after serving notice on the other party according to strict state guidelines.^[9]

Demographics

In 2000, the federal census ^[10] counted 37,881 unmarried-couple households in Maine; of these, 8.95%, or 3,394, were same-sex couples (44% male, 56% female). In contrast, the same census showed 272,152 married couples in the state.^[11] Total state population was 1,274,923.

In a June, 2008, report the Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law analyzed census data and concluded, "While in many respects Maine’s same-sex couples look like married couples, same-sex couples with children have fewer economic resources to provide for their families than married parents and lower rates of homeownership."[1]

The report noted, among other things, that:

• By 2005, the number of same-sex couples increased to 4,847. This increase likely reflects same-sex couples’ growing willingness to disclose their partnerships on government surveys.
• In 2005, there were an estimated 52,801 gay, lesbian, and bisexual people (single and coupled) living in Maine.
• There are more female same-sex couples (56%) than male same-sex couples (44%) in Maine.
• Individuals in same-sex couples are, on average, 43 years old, and significantly younger than individuals in married couples (49 years old) in Maine.
• Same-sex couples live in every county in Maine and constitute 1.1% of coupled households and 0.7% of all households in the state.
• 8% of individuals in same-sex couples are nonwhite, compared with 2% of married individuals.
• The median income of same-sex coupled households in Maine is $62,000, compared to $50,140 for married couples. The average household income of same-sex couples is $64,134, compared to $61,512 for married couples.
• 63% of same-sex couples in Maine own their home, compared to 87% of married couples.
• The median household income of same-sex couples with children is $38,100, or 30% lower than that of married parents ($54,600). The average household income of same-sex couples with children is $45,089, significantly less than $64,965 for married parents.
• While 44% of same-sex couples with children own their home, a significantly larger percentage of married parents (86%) own their home.
• 16% of same-sex couples in Maine are raising children under the age of 18.
• As of 2005, an estimated 1,228 of Maine’s children are living in households headed by same-sex couples.
• In Maine, married and same-sex couples with children under 18 in the home have, on average, two children.
• 5% of Maine’s adopted children (or 323 children) live with a lesbian or gay parent.

Same-sex marriage in Maine

Main article: Same-sex marriage in Maine

On May 6, 2009, Maine's legislature and governor enacted a law to allow same-sex marriage in Maine. The law was subsequently repealed by voters on November 3, 2009.^[12]

See also

• LGBT rights in Maine
• Same-sex marriage in the United States
• Same-sex marriage legislation in the United States
• Same-sex marriage in the United States by state
• Same-sex marriage in the United States public opinion
• Same-sex marriage status in the United States by state
• List of benefits of marriage in the United States
• Defense of Marriage Act
• Marriage Protection Act
• U.S. state constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions
• Federal Marriage Amendment
• Domestic partnerships in the United States
• Freedom to Marry Coalition
• History of civil marriage in the U.S.

References

1. ^ Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, sec. 2710
2. ^ Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 19-A, sec. 650-A, 650-B
3. ^ 'Remarkable' gay marriage win for Iowa, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 10, 2009
4. ^ Susan M. Cover (4 November 2009). "Mainers vote down gay marriage law". Portland Press Herald. http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=293976&ac=PHnws. Retrieved 4 November 2009. "The measure is repealed in a close vote, 53-47 percent" ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ Maine Dep't of Health and Human Services, Instructions and Information for the Domestic Partner Registry in Maine, at p.2.
6. ^ "Domestic Partner Registry," Maine.gov, accessed 27 October 2011.
7. ^ [http://www.hrc.org/laws-and-legislation/entry/maine-marriage-relationship-recognition-law "Maine Marriage/Relationship Recognition Law," Human Rights Campaign, accessed 27 October 2011.
8. ^ Morgan, Kelly (2006-07-30). "Domestic partnerships can be straight, too". Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine). http://www.sunjournal.com/story/175669-3/bsection/Domestic_partnerships_can_be_straight_too/. Retrieved 2008-04-18. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Maine Dep't of Health and Human Services, Instructions and Information for the Domestic Partner Registry in Maine, at p.2.
10. ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/censr-5.pdf
11. ^ 2000 Census information on Gay and Lesbian Couples, by state
12. ^ Susan M. Cover (4 November 2009). "Mainers vote down gay marriage law". Portland Press Herald. http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=293976&ac=PHnws. Retrieved 4 November 2009. "The measure is repealed in a close vote, 53-47 percent" ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Public Laws of Maine, 2003, Chapter 672
• Maine Domestic Partner Registry guidelines and forms
• Human Rights Campaign web page on Maine Marriage/Relationship Recognition Law