Q: I want to know if someone in a domestic partnership moves out of state to help family, would that void the DP.

A: Leaving the state does not void a domestic partnership. The grounds for cancelling a domestic partnership are the same as the grounds for dissolving a marriage: annulment, legal separation or divorce. Moving away out of state is not one of the grounds. A Domestic Partnership has to be registered with the California Secretary of State. Was that done? The real question is: Do you want the relationship to continue? If you do not, then file to dissolve the domestic partnership. It's on the same forms as a divorce. If you want the relationship to continue, then you need to start talking. Either your domestic partner needs to move back, or you need to move to be with your domestic partner, unless you like the relationship the way it is, in which case you don't have to do anything. But if you move to another state, check the laws in that state because a California Domestic Partnership may not be recognized in the other state.

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