If your domestic partnership was registered in California, there is no residency requirement to file a dissolution of domestic partnership in California.
However, if your domestic partnership was registered in a state other than California, one partner must have been and be a resident of California for at least six months and of the county of filing for at least three months immediately prior to filing the petition.
In California, there are two ways to terminate a registered domestic partnership. In certain circumstances, if all of the requirements are met, partners may terminate a registered domestic partnership by preparing and filing a Notice to Terminate Domestic Partnership with the California Secretary of State. In all other circumstances, at least one of the partners must file a petition with and obtain a judgment from, the Superior Court in the same way that California marriages are terminated.
You can terminate your domestic partnership this way only if ALL of the requirements listed below are true at the time you file the form. Even if only one of the statements is not true, you cannot terminate the domestic partnership with the California Secretary of State and you must file a petition with the Superior Court in order to terminate the domestic partnership
If these statements are all true, you may terminate the domestic partnership by filing a Notice of Termination of Domestic Partnership with the California.
All three of these proceedings essentially follow the same process as terminating a marriage in California. Refer to the appropriate section of our web site for further information.