2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 New Jersey Emerging Registration Issues Presented by Joseph A. Komosinski, State Registrar

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Domestic Partnership Act Act Implemented July 2004 More requirements than marriage Less rights and obligations Open to same sex couples 18 yrs or older OR opposites sex couple 62 yrs of age or older Proof of joint financial responsibility Proof of joint residency Oath to be in a committed monogamous caring relationship

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Civil Union Act Act implemented Feb 2007 Amended the DP Act Established equal but separate union for same sex couples Afforded same sex couples all rights and obligations of married couples Established Domestic Status Established the Civil Union Review Commission

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Distinctions Domestic Partnership Same or opposite sex couples 62 < Termination of DP through the courts Civil Union Same Sex couples 18 < Dissolution of Civil Union Marriage Opposite Sex couples 18 < Divorce

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Domestic Status Marital Status replaced by DS Single/never married, married, married but separated, widowed, divorced Civil Union Partner, Civil Union Dissolved, Civil Union (Deceased) Domestic Partner, Former Domestic Partnership, Domestic Partnership Terminated, Domestic Partner (Deceased) Unknown Surviving Spouse, Civil Union Partner, Domestic Partner Additional categories-Marriage, Civil Union, DP

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Performance of “Duty” Local Registrars required by law to accept registration of M, CU, DP Mayor’s, Public officials performing ceremonies determine to oversee all ceremonies or no ceremonies Religious entities have choice to perform or not perform any ceremony

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 State – Federal Agencies Bride’s assumption of groom’ surname following marriage Married couples Civil Union Couples Married couples Domestic Parntership Couples Hyphenated, Not Hyphenated, Legal Name Change

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Birth of a child By NJ law any child born during the course of a marriage is considered a product of the marriage With the passage of the CU Act this right is afforded to CU partners.? Female – Female Male – Male DP excluded Non-Discrimination – requirement of proof

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 Civil Union Review Commission Established to review the categorization and impact of Civil Union vs. Marriage for same sex couples and 7 specific areas of concern related to financial, social and other impacts Study and determine if the DP Act should be repealed Make recommendation of retaining Civil Union or moving to Marriage Equality

2008 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence Orlando, FL June 1 st – 5 th, 2008 “Future” Concerns Children of Same Sex couples Further revisions to forms Name of Parent (if female/male – list female parent first)??