Borough of Lansdowne, PA Chapter 170 Domestic Partnership Registry

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Lansdowne 5-16-2007 by Ord. No. 1226.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Ch. 170, Electrical Code, adopted 2-8-1965 by Ord. No. 830, was repealed 6-16-2004 by Ord. No. 1198. See Ch. 146, Art. I, Uniform Construction Code, for current provisions pertaining to the Electrical Code.

§ 170-1 Definitions.

The following words and phrases appearing with initial capital letters when used in this Ordinance shall have the meanings given to them in this section.

BOROUGH

The Borough of Lansdowne, County of Delaware, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

COUNCIL

The Borough Council of the Borough of Lansdowne.

DOMESTIC PARTNERS

Two adult persons who cohabitate and intend to do so indefinitely and are responsible for each other's financial and emotional needs.

ORDINANCE

This Ordinance, which shall also be known as the "Domestic Partnership Registry Ordinance."

§ 170-2 Eligibility.

To be eligible for registration, both domestic partners must:

A. Not be in a marriage recognized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

B. Not be related by blood to a degree as to be prohibited from marriage by state law;

C. Be the sole domestic partner to each other;

D. Be 18 years old or older;

E. Be in a committed relationship of indefinite duration with mutual obligations akin to those of marriage, which include financial and emotional responsibility for each other;

F. Have one of the couple live, work or own property in Lansdowne; and

G. Agree to jointly file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Borough.

§ 170-3 Filing.

Two persons requesting to become registered domestic partners must complete and submit a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with an office of the Borough as designated by the Borough Manager. The Declaration of Domestic Partnership must be signed by both persons in the presence of a notary.

§ 170-4 Termination of partnership.

A. Termination of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership occurs upon:

(1) Death of one of the partners; or

(2) A Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership filed with the Borough by one of the partners.

B. Within 90 days of dissolution of the domestic partnership or when the partnership no longer meets the Borough requirements under the Declaration of Domestic Partnership Ordinance:

(1) At least one partner should submit a completed Termination of Domestic Partnership form to an office of the Borough designated by the Borough Manager;

(2) A copy of the completed form will be returned to the filer and to the other partner's last known address on the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form.

C. Termination shall occur upon receipt of the completed Termination of Domestic Partnership form in the office of the Borough designated by the Borough Manager.

D. There is no process to appeal the dissolution of a domestic partnership.

§ 170-5 Registration; fees.

A. The Borough Manager shall develop forms Declaration of Domestic Partnership and Termination of Domestic Partnership.

B. The Declaration of Domestic Partnership shall require each individual who wants to be a domestic partner to:

(1) State that he or she meets the requirements under § 170-2 of this Ordinance;

(2) Provide a mailing address;

(3) Sign the form under penalty of perjury.

C. The Borough shall have these forms available at a public office of the Borough.

D. The Borough shall charge a fee for each Declaration of Domestic Partnership filed, which shall initially be $20 but which may be adjusted by Council from time to time by resolution.

E. No fee shall be charged in connection with the filing of a Termination of Domestic Partnership.

F. The Borough shall register the Declaration in a registry for those partnerships. A copy of the Declaration shall be mailed to the mailing address on the form. Each additional copy of the Declaration can be purchased for $10. Said registry shall be a public record, available for inspection by the public during the Borough's regular business hours.

G. The Borough shall register the Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership Registry in the same registry.