100 register for city's domestic partnership

The 100th domestic partnership was registered within the City of Sarasota last week, less than three months after the program began, said the city’s public information officer Jan Thornburg. The City Commission approved the program and registrations began Nov. 6.

The registry offers domestic partners many rights within the city limits including health care decisions, hospital visitations, correctional facility visitations and funeral decisions. Unmarried domestic partner couples may register, regardless of sexual orientation. City of Sarasota residents as well as non-residents may register.

The success of the registry has generated interest from other Florida cities, such as Northport, inquiring about possibly using the city’s program as a model, Thornburg said.

Partners may register in the Office of the City Auditor and Clerk located in Room 110 within City Hall, 1565 First Street. Registration hours are as follows: Tuesday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

More information on the domestic partnership registry can be found by visiting http://www.SarasotaGov.com/DPR, where Frequently Asked Questions and other important information is posted.

Several other Florida cities — including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Gulfport and Clearwater — have enacted registries.