Posted by RchCucNotary on 3/23/11 12:35pm
Msg #377218

Civil Union & Domestic Partnership

I am completing a loan package and they'r asking the borrowers if they are a Civil Union or Domestic Partnership. I don't know what either of these mean. Please help!!

Thanks!

Reply by rengel/CA on 3/23/11 12:37pm
Msg #377219

The Borrowers will know if they are...

And if they don't know what it is, they aren't in one.


My .02

Reply by James Dawson on 3/23/11 12:47pm
Msg #377223

You can Google either one for a definition but I would not be concerned if it were me as I'm sure you don't ask to see a heter-sexual couple's marriage certificate. ID and notarize the signature is our job. IMO

Reply by LKT/CA on 3/23/11 4:31pm
Msg #377295

If the borrowers are married - then they are not in a Civil Union or Domestic Partner. Civil Unions or Domestic Partnerships either mean two same gender persons who registered with the State as domestic partners, or a man and woman, not married living together (i.e. shack-up situation).

Have the borrowers read the four paragraphs and check the boxes that apply to them. The form is sort of self explanatory.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 3/23/11 10:07pm
Msg #377327

Not your problem - the signers will know whether it applies to them or not, and will answer appropriately. You're there to ID them and notarize, not to interrogate...

Reply by docs2go/ca on 3/24/11 11:58am
Msg #377373

Actually, I have had an experience where partners did NOT know if they were in a Civil Union or Domestic Partnership.
They actually asked me if they were in a Civil Union! However, a sentence underneath this question on that particular document clarified the matter for them... you might also look for that...

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/24/11 11:40pm
Msg #377453

Exactly. The key word there is "registered" as domestic partners. The couple in question must sign (and have notarized) a document and record their intentions so that they qualify for whatever rights they have under state law for common ownership of property. It's not something that they can just decide they want to have. So if they haven't gone through that registration process, they don't have a registered domestic partnership. However, I think CA law does recognize other legal unions established in "other jurisdictions".

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 3/24/11 5:55pm
Msg #377430

This is a very common form in loan packages. On your website you claim to have 4 years experience. BTW, what is a certfied notary public? You claim to be one...didn't know there was such a certification!
I am very surpised that you have never seen this particular form before, and that by reading the form, you cannot figure it out, if you are as experienced as you claim. You might want to check with whoever gave you your extensive training.