Domestic Partnership Registration.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 350-245
in effect350-245. Domestic Partnership Registration.
1. REGISTRATION AUTHORIZED. Any 2 individuals, one or each of whom is a city employee, who meet the requirements of this section may register as a domestic partnership as provided in this section.
2. APPLICATION. Individuals who seek to register as a domestic partnership shall appear in person in the department of employee relations and complete and sign an application form provided by the department, which shall include a declaration of domestic partnership, additional agreements, a declaration of a condition of domestic partnership and an affirmation, as provided in subs. 3 to 6.
3. DECLARATION OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP. Applicants for registration shall sign a declaration of domestic partnership stating that they:
a. Are in a domestic relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment, and intend to remain in that relationship.
b. Are 18 years of age or older and competent to enter into a contract.
c. Are not married.
d. Are not related by kinship to a degree that would bar marriage in this state.
e. Reside together in the city.
f. Have not been in a registered domestic partnership with another individual during the 12 months immediately prior to the application date unless that domestic partnership was terminated by death or marriage.
4. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS. In addition, applicants shall agree that they:
a. Understand that their registration as domestic partners is a matter of public record.
b. Agree to notify the department of any change in the status of the domestic partnership and to file a termination notice when appropriate.
5. CONDITIONS OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP. The applicants shall declare that they possess at least 3 of the following conditions of domestic partnership:
a. They have common or joint ownership of a residence.
b. They have a current lease for a residence identifying both applicants as tenants.
c. They jointly own a motor vehicle.
d. They have a joint bank or credit union account.
e. They have a joint credit account.
f. They have identified each other as primary beneficiaries in their wills.
6. AFFIRMATION. Each applicant shall swear or affirm, subject to the penalties for false statements of s. 946.32, Wis. Stats., that the information declared and stated in the application for domestic partnership is true and correct to the best of his or her knowledge.
7. VERIFICATION. The department shall verify the age, identity and city residence of applicants for domestic partnership. The department may require such reasonable documentation as may be necessary to verify the claims made by those seeking to register a domestic partnership. If a previous domestic partnership was terminated by death or marriage, an applicant may be required to submit proof satisfactory to the department of the death or marriage.
8. TERMINATION. A domestic partnership is terminated by any of the following:
a. The death of one of the partners.
b. The marriage of one of the partners.
c. The filing of a termination statement. Either domestic partner may terminate a domestic partnership by submitting to the department a termination statement on a form provided by the department. The termination form shall either be signed by both domestic partners or shall include a statement by the terminating domestic partner that he or she has mailed or personally delivered a copy of the termination statement to the other domestic partner, or that he or she does not know the location of the other domestic partner.
9. RE-REGISTRATION. An individual whose domestic partnership has been terminated under sub. 8 may not file another declaration of domestic partnership under this section until at least 12 months after the date on which the department received the termination statement.
10. PRIOR REGISTRATIONS. Any individuals registered under s. 111-3-10, in effect prior to October 30, 2009, shall be considered registered under this section and subject to its requirements.
11. INTENT. This section is not intended to make any provisions of state law which relate to partnerships, particularly the uniform partnership act and the uniform limited partnership act, chs. 178 and 179, Wis. Stats., or ch. 770, Wis. Stats., relating to domestic partnership, apply to domestic partnerships registered under this section.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-3/CH350-sub9.pdf#page=11Fetched: 10/26/2026