DID YOU REGISTER YOUR DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP? By Christina Mae Olson, CFP®

My partner (or “spouse” now that we are married), Michelle, and I attended the 2nd annual “Coming Out for Equality” GALA that the 7 Rivers LGBT Resource Center hosted on 10/10/09. The room was filled with enthusiastic LGBT’s and allies in celebration of our pride. What a great event! At one point during the evening, we were asked to stand up if we had registered as domestic partners in Wisconsin. I was shocked that only three (3) couples stood up. Did I count correctly? Just three couples in that entire banquet hall?

For over 16 years I have worked with and written about the importance of gay and lesbian couples taking steps to protect their unions. I have implored gay and lesbian couples to get wills, durable powers of attorney and health care powers of attorney. I have referred countless couples to lawyers for official cohabitation contracts and domestic partnership agreements. I have outlined the importance of titling property in a certain way to protect both partners. I have suggested obtaining life insurance for the benefit of a surviving partner in the event that one of you dies. I have suggested to unmarried straight and LGBT clients that they complete the “Authorization for Final Disposition” now that Wisconsin offers this to us.

Gay and lesbian couples living in Wisconsin and Minnesota (and most places in the USA) do not have the same financial and legal protections that legally married heterosexual couples have. Even though we can legally marry in several states and several countries – we do not have any of the federal rights and privileges as legally married straight couples. Even though Wisconsonian gays and lesbians can now register as domestic partners – and enjoy some 43 new legal rights we didn’t have before – apparently most of us are not doing so. I did an informal and very unofficial survey of gay and lesbian couples in La Crosse, Vernon, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties. I wanted to know if they were registered as domestic partners. Most of the couples I asked were not registered.

First, how many gay and lesbian couples are living in these counties? According to a research paper done by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, with data taken from the last census, http://www.law.ucla.edu/Williamsinstitute/publications/WisconsinCensusSnapshot.pdf, there were an estimated 14,894 gay and lesbian couples in Wisconsin in 2005. Here is the count, by county:

I called the County Clerk offices on 10/26/09 and found out how many couples had registered as domestic partners in these counties:

This is of great interest to me. Why would a couple choose NOT to do this? Here are some of the reasons I was given for NOT registering:

Alternatively, here are some of the reasons couples told me that they DID register:

I would like readers of my column to let me know if you have registered your partnership. If so, please tell me why. If not, I’d like to know your reasons. What are your opinions or feelings about gay and lesbian couples accessing rights and responsibilities under the law? Call and tell me or leave a message: 608-525-9818 or 708-792-0709. Or, email me. Here is my email address: CMOney@centurytel.net

I want to know more about why we are choosing to register or not register. My next column will address this issue in more detail. I will use all of your responses in my column (anonymously, of course). Please ask me specific questions if you want to.

Chris Olson is a licensed financial planner with a fee-only practice. You may contact her at CMOney@centurytel.net or 608-525-9818.

arrow imageIf you have comments on this article, please send them to Chris at the email address above, NOT to the LGBT Newsletter.