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DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP REGISTRY

Columbus City Codes tit. 2, ch. 229
in effect

Columbus City Codes § 229.01 Definitions.

229.01 - Definitions. As used in this section: (1) "Domestic partnership" refers to the non-marital committed relationship of two (2) adults of the same or different sex, who share responsibility for each others' common welfare, and have signed and filed declaration of domestic partnership with the city. (2) "Financially interdependent" means individuals in a domestic partnership are jointly responsible for the financial obligations of the partnership. (Ord. No. 1584-2012, § 1, 7-30-2012)

Columbus City Codes § 229.02 Domestic partnership criteria.

229.02 - Domestic partnership criteria. To establish a domestic partnership, two (2) individuals must file a declaration of domestic partnership with the Columbus City Clerk affirming that they meet the following eligibility requirement: Share with another adult a government-issued marriage license whether recognized by the State of Ohio or not; OR all of the following requirements: (1) Are not currently married to another adult as recognized by Ohio law besides the adult with whom the domestic partnership is being established; and (2) Are not legally separated from another person either under statutory or common law; and (3) Shares responsibility for each others' common welfare; and (4) Are at least eighteen (18) years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract; and (5) Are financially interdependent, as demonstrated by at least four (4) of the following: • Joint ownership of real estate property or joint tenancy on a residential lease; or • Joint ownership of an automobile; or • Joint bank or credit account; or • Joint liabilities (e.g., credit cards or loans); or • A will designating the interdependent adults as primary beneficiaries; or • A retirement plan or life insurance policy beneficiary designation form designating the interdependent adults as primary beneficiaries; or • A durable power of attorney signed to the effect that the two (2) interdependent adults have granted powers to one another. (Ord. No. 1584-2012, § 1, 7-30-2012)

Columbus City Codes § 229.03 Filing.

229.03 - Filing. (1) Location: Two (2) persons wishing to establish a domestic partnership must complete and file electronically a declaration of domestic partnership with the Columbus City Clerk. (2) Prohibitions: No individual who has previously filed a declaration of domestic partnership with the Columbus City Clerk may file a new declaration of domestic partnership until a notice of termination of domestic partnership has been filed with the Columbus City Clerk. However, this prohibition shall not apply if the previous domestic partnership ended because one (1) of the domestic partners is deceased. A death certificate or a dated newspaper obituary with newspaper citation may be used as proof of death to end partnership. (Ord. No. 1584-2012, § 1, 7-30-2012; Ord. No. 3435-2024, § 1, 12-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 229.04 Registration.

229.04 - Registration. (1) The city clerk shall develop "declaration of domestic partnership" and "notice of termination of domestic partnership" forms. (2) The "declaration of domestic partnership" form shall require each registrant to: a. Affirm that the individual meets the aforementioned requirements of this section; b. Provide a mailing address; c. Sign the form under penalty of perjury; and d. Have a notary public acknowledge his or her signature. (3) The city shall have declaration and termination forms available at the office of the city clerk. (4) The city shall charge fifty ($50.00) dollars plus an administrative fee to persons filing a declaration of domestic partnership. No fee shall be charged for the filing of a notice of termination of domestic partnership. (5) The city shall register the declaration of domestic partnership in a registry and return a copy of the declaration form to the domestic partners at the address provided as their common residence. (6) The city shall register the notice of termination of domestic partnership pursuant to the aforementioned requirements set forth in this division. (Ord. No. 1584-2012, § 1, 7-30-2012; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 3435-2024, § 2, 12-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 229.05 Termination.

229.05 - Termination. (1) A domestic partnership ends when: a. One (1) of the domestic partners dies; or b. A notice of termination of domestic partnership has been filed by one (1) or both domestic partners with the city. (2) If the facts affirmed in the declaration of domestic partnership cease to be true, one (1) or both parties to a domestic partnership shall file a notice of termination of domestic partnership with the city clerk. Upon receipt, the city shall return a copy of the notice marked "filed" to each of the partners if jointly filed; or two (2) copies to the filing partner. Unless the partners jointly file the notice, the partner filing the notice shall, within five (5) days, send a copy of the filed notice to the other partner's last known address. However, this requirement shall not apply if the termination is due to the death of one (1) of the domestic partners. (3) Termination of a domestic partnership shall be effective upon filing of the notice of termination of domestic partnership with the city by one (1) or both partners or on the date of the death of one (1) of the domestic partners. (4) Following the termination of a domestic partnership, the burden of notification rests with each former domestic partner who has received or qualified for any benefit or right based upon the existence of a domestic partnership and whose receipt of that benefit or enjoyment of that right has not otherwise terminated, to give prompt notification to any third party who provides such benefit or right that the domestic partnership was terminated. The city shall not be liable for any injury to any third party by virtue of lack of notice of termination to the domestic partnership, including any third party which has provided any benefits regarding the domestic partnership. (5) Failure to provide notice to third parties as prescribed in this section shall not delay or prevent the termination of the domestic partnership. (Ord. No. 1584-2012, § 1, 7-30-2012)

Columbus City Codes § 229.06 Legal effect.

229.06 - Legal effect. (1) Registering as domestic partners by two (2) individuals who are also married to one another in Ohio or in another state shall under no circumstances be considered as evidence, knowledge, awareness or an admission that the partners are not lawfully married and it shall not be given any other legal effect in Ohio or any other state with regard to whether the persons are lawfully married. (2) Nothing in this division shall be interpreted to alter or contravene county, state or federal law. (3) Nothing in this division shall be construed as recognizing or treating a declaration of domestic partnership as a marriage or a legal status that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of marriage. (Ord. No. 1584-2012, § 1, 7-30-2012)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2ADCO_CH229DOPAREFetched: 10/27/2026

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