City of Clayton Approves Domestic Partnership Registry to Improve Access, Enhance Quality of Life

January 25, 2012

The Clayton Board of Aldermen approved an ordinance on Tuesday that will create a domestic partnership registry to assist some residents lead fuller, more accessible lives.

Under the ordinance, the City would maintain a voluntary registry of couples in domestic partnerships that will allow them greater access to city-owned facilities, like the Clayton recreation center, and encourage health care providers to consider these partnerships as “family members” for the purpose of visitation and similar access priorities.

“The City of Clayton has always worked to build an inclusive community that strives to improve our residents’ quality of life at all levels,” said Mayor Linda Goldstein. “Building strong family units and protecting the rights of those in domestic relationships is a part of that initiative. The registry can help strengthen bonds that are important to the welfare of our diverse city.”

The ordinance is intended to make it easier for institutions and businesses to identify recipients of their benefit plans, open access to facilities that allow family memberships, and give widowed seniors certain benefits without remarrying which could put them at risk of losing benefits from Social Security or a deceased spouse’s pension. The registry does not assure property rights granted only by The State of Missouri.

Couples interested in registering may do so with the City Clerk for a fee. The couples must have resided together in the City for at least six months, are each other’s sole domestic partner, and are not married to anyone other than their domestic partner. One or both persons in a domestic partnership may also terminate their registration with the City.