Rhode Island General Laws 28-30-24. Domestic partner – Definition

For purposes of this chapter, “domestic partner” shall be defined as a person who, prior to the decedent ‘s death, was in an exclusive, intimate, and committed relationship with the decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:

(1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to contract ;

(2) Neither partner was married to anyone else;

(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the state of Rhode Island;

(4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of death; and

(5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the following:

(i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;

(ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;

(iii) Two (2) of: (A) Joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) Joint checking account; (C) Joint credit account; (D) Joint lease ; and/or

(iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent’s will, retirement contract, or life insurance.

History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 8.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 28-30-24

• Affidavit : A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
• Beneficiary : A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
• Contract : A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Decedent : A deceased person.
• Lease : A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
• Mortgage : The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Partnership : A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
• person : may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6