Washington state law lets gays create legal partnerships
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a measure to create domestic partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples some of the same rights that come with marriage.
The law creates a domestic partnership registry and provides enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.
To be registered, couples have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else and be at least 18.
Unmarried heterosexual senior couples will also be eligible to register if one partner is at least 62 years old.
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