Domestic Partner Registry

Registration Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Registration Criteria

"Domestic Partner" is defined in Chapter 181 of the City’s Codified Ordinances as an individual who has signed and filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the City. The Ordinance requires that the City maintain a Domestic Partner Registry. Persons who wish to register for a domestic partnership must:

  • Share a common residence, agree to be in a relationship of mutual interdependence.
  • Not be married to a third individual or a member of a civil union or domestic partnership with a third individual.
  • Be 18 years of age or older.
  • Not be related by blood in a way that would prevent them from being married to one another in this state.
  • Both sign the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form to be filed with the City.

Please note: No individual who has previously filed a Declaration of Domestic Partnership in this city may file a new Declaration of Domestic Partnership until at least ninety days after the date that a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership was filed with the City under Chapter 181. This prohibition does not apply if the previous domestic partnership ended because one of the domestic partners died.

Registration Process

A Declaration of Domestic Partnership form (PDF) must be completed and notarized. The form can be signed in person at the City when a notary is available, or signed and notarized elsewhere and mailed in. Please note...a notary is not always available at City Hall, to prevent a delay in the registration process please call ahead to see if a notary will be available or have the document notarized by an outside entity. The completed and notarized Declaration of Domestic Partnership must be filed with the City pursuant to Chapter 181.

Filing Fees

  • $50 for residents of Cleveland Heights
  • $65 for non-residents

Cash, check or money order only. Do not mail cash - cash is accepted in person only. Check or money order should be made payable to the ’City of Cleveland Heights', and returned to:

Cleveland Heights City Hall
Attention: Domestic Partner Registry
40 Severance Circle
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118

The City shall register the Partnership and return a copy of the completed registration form to the address provided as the Partners’ common residence.

Legal Rights & Privileges

Please note: The signing of this Registry does not in and of itself confer any legal rights, privileges or status upon the signers and it is not intended that the signing of the Registry will in any way effect or conflict with the laws of the State of Ohio governing marriage.