Debra Synovec & Associates

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP MEDIATION

Domestic Partnerships and Meretricious Relationships frequently create situations that lead to surprising legal ramifications for the partners and cause legal outcomes that are unexpected and do not follow the intentions of the partners.  Washington law recognizes Domestic Partnerships, if the partnership is properly registered, or it may consider a cohabitating couple to be a meretricious or "marriage-like" relationships.  The laws affecting domestic partnerships and cohabitating couples are uncertain, complex and have inconsistent state and federal applications, all of which may create unanticipated and sometimes devastating outcomes for the couples. 

Mediation offers couples an opportunity to: 

• Prevent future issues from arising by offering a process in which the individuals are able to create a domestic partnership or cohabitation agreement which will help them prevent issues from arising in the future.  Domestic Partnership and Meretricious Relationship Property mediation allows partners to create an agreement that protects their own rights in the event of a dissolution and ensures that their assets are distributed according to their wishes in the event of their death. 
  
  
• Resolve issues that arise due to a dissolution, including property distribution, parenting, and support issues.  Domestic Partnership and Meretricious Relationship mediation offers couples the opportunity to create a dissolution agreement that meets their unique needs regarding property division, support, parenting, and other issues that arise.  The mediation process is similar to the divorce mediation process. 

Domestic Partnership and Meretricious Relationship dissolutions are complex and there is vast uncertainty in the law regarding these types of dissolutions.  In addition to complex state laws and that cause unexpected outcomes federal law does not yet recognize such couples; therefore, the tax consequences and other financial issues may be more complex than for a married couple.  Mediation offers couples the opportunity to become informed and empowered; they control the outcome.