Domesti Partnership registrations became law on April 21, 2007. It took effect on July 22, 2007, accepting applications on Monday the 23rd.

On March 12, 2008, a greatly expanded addition to the partnership status was made law, taking effect on June 12, 2008.

When Governor Christine Gregoire signed the registration bill, allowing couples to make health care and end-of-life decisions for each other, she said “This is a very proud moment for me as governor.” The governor repeated a story told by Seattle resident Charlene Strong, whose moving testimony before legislative committees many lawmakers said gave the bill the margin it needed to pass both chambers.

Strong’s 10-year partner, Kathryn Fleming, died in December 2006, after she was trapped by rising water in the couple’s flooded basement studio. Strong was barred from Fleming’s hospital room, and the funeral director who handled Fleming’s arrangements refused to acknowledge the couple’s relationship, although “he was more than willing to accept (Strong’s) credit card,” the governor said.

Governor Gregoire also told the story of a lesbian couple from Spokane. When their 6-year-old son was injured in a bicycle accident, the doctor refused to treat him because the parent was not his biological mother. She said, “It’s difficult enough in these tragic circumstances. Why then do we compound the tragedy?”

Governor Christine Gregoire:

“This bill is about protecting and helping Washington families. It simply gives these families the same rights as everybody else. It’s the right thing to do.”

“Love manifests itself not in some cookie-cutter way. Love comes in many forms. Our families are different, but every one of our families deserves our undivided support.”

The 199-page updated partnership law makes changes to 173 sections of state law, including requiring domestic partners of public officials to submit financial disclosure forms, just as do the spouses of opposite-sex officials. The measure also gives domestic partners the same spousal testimony rights that married couples have, allowing domestic partners the right to refuse to testify against each other in court.

It also adds domestic partners to sections about probate and trusts, community property and homestead exemptions, and guardianship and powers of attorney. And ending a domestic partnerships would be allowed by the secretary of state only during the first five years, with several more restrictions relating to children, real property or unpaid debts. All other partnerships would be dissolved in Superior Court; similar to conventional divorce.

In general, the 2008 expansions cover areas of Public Officials, Public Assistance, Judicial Process and Victim’s Rights, Veterans, Community Property and Property Rights, Taxes, Guardianship and Powers of Attorney, Probate and Trust Law, and Dissolution.

The extremists had hoped that Ref. 71, which “grants state registered domestic partners in Washington all rights, responsibilities, and obligations granted by or imposed by state law on married couples,” would so disturb the electorate, that it would prevent same-sex couples and seniors from being protected.

They were countered with a coalition of more than 280 non-profit allies, labor unions and associations, 150 members of clergy, and 50 congregations and Faith organizations, who joined in supporting partnership rights. Many small businesses as well as major employers like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Google, Nike, Starbucks, and Group Health, let it be known that they value all their employees.

In support of domestic partnership rights, the Washington Families Standing Together campaign raised a total of approximately $1,089,557 and spent $207,361, as of October 2009. Some of the major pro-partnership contributors included: Microsoft Corporation, ($100,000), Human Rights Campaign Approve Ref. 71 PAC ($73,500), Pride Foundation ($36,353), American Civil Liberties Union, ($32,000), John Stryker, architect ($25,000), and the National Education Association ($15,000).

In opposition to domestic partnership rights, the Protect Marriage Washington campaign raised a total of approximately $60,115 and spent $36,116, as of October 2009. Some of the major anti-partnership contributors included: Adams Bryant ($7,095), Dobbs Glenn, president of Mines Management, Inc. ($2,750), Rivers of Glory Christian Church ($2,000), Atonement Free Lutheran Church ($1,000), and the Washington Values Alliance ($1,400).

In the November 2009 vote, the outcome was that Ref. 71 was approved, which allows the expanded benefits for domestic partnerships.

According to blogster Joe Mirabella:

“This moment in history is simply unprecedented. Referendum 71 was only the 6th referendum in Washington history to ever be approved by Washington voters. It is far easier to reject a referendum than approve one. In only six weeks we changed the conversation from the ‘decline to sign’ campaign [refering to the campaign to place Ref. 71 on the ballot], to one of approve [Ref. 71]. We faced an off-year election, when older more conservative voters have a far better voting record. An LGBT referendum has never been approved by voters anywhere in the United States, that is until November 3 when fair-minded voters from throughout the state said, ‘yes we want equality for all Washington families.’ ”

Posted by Joe Mirabella, November 5, 2009, blog.seattlepi.com

The State Registered Domestic Partnership law requires the Public Employee Benefit Board (PEBB) to accept the state registration when determining eligibility for benefits to same-sex partners. For those who do not receive benefits through the PEBB, it depends upon your employer. The law does not require employers to offer domestic partner benefits.

The Washington Registry does not automatically recognize other registrations, legal marriages, or Civil Unions. You must register to have the Washington Registry benefits.

Records of state registered domestic partnerships are public, and subject to disclosure on request.

As of April 25, 2008, 3,918 Domestic Partnership were registered.

As of November 2011, nearly 19,000 people in Washington state were registered as domestic partners.

Domestic partnerships are registered with the Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations Division. In contrast, legal marriages licenses are applied for through the county, not the state system, and are officiated by clerk, judges, justice of the peace, or clergy.