Background 

On November 6, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners of Sarasota County, Florida, passed and duly adopted an Ordinance creating Article XII of Chapter 62 of the Code of Ordinances, establishing a domestic partnership registry in Sarasota County.

Definitions

Sarasota County Ordinance #2013-037 states that a Domestic Partner means one of two individuals who are parties to a domestic partnership, and that a Domestic Partnership means a committed domestic relationship between two individuals that meets all of the criteria described in Section 62 -337 of Article XII.

Registration

To register, partners must:

  1. Complete an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership Registration. Blank forms are available at the Clerk and Comptroller's office;
  2. Pay a recording fee;
  3. Bring two witness at the time of registration; and
  4. Apply in person, together at one of the following Clerk and Comptroller's office locations:

Sarasota Main Office
2000 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34237

Venice Branch Office
4000 South Tamiami Trail
Venice, FL 34293

Registering requires that both parties are present at the time the paperwork is filed, and have brought two witnesses. Upon completion and recordation, registrants will receive a Certificate of Registration.

Fees 

Fees may be paid by cash, credit card, check, or money order payable to the Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller. All credit card transactions are subject to a 3.5% non-refundable fee, assessed by a third-party payment processor (MyFloridaCounty.com).

Records 

The Affidavit of Domestic Partnership Registration and any other documents related to Ordinance #2013-037 will be open for public inspection in the Official Records of Sarasota County, Florida. Certified copies can be obtained from the Clerk and Comptroller's Public Access department.

Amendment or Termination 

Additional available forms include an Amendment to the Affidavit, and Termination of Partnership by one or both parties. Both amending or terminating a Domestic Partnership requires payment of fees.

FAQs

  • What is a Domestic Partner? What is a Domestic Partnership?
  • What are the requirements of the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership?
  • Do we have to register for a domestic partnership in person, and where?
  • What is the cost for a Domestic Partnership?
  • What will we receive showing that we have registered?
  • Is our registration information private?
  • What rights of domestic partners are provide for in the ordinance?
  • Is there reciprocity?
  • What does "mutual residence" mean? What if we own more than one house?
  • How does a Domestic Partnership terminate?
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