 Priestess
Kat:
No matter what we say today, or how much we support and bless
this commitment, marriage between two people of the same sex is not recognized
in the United States. But it is Barbie and Shelley’s intent today
to create a Domestic Partnership with as many rights as possible that would
be accorded to a traditional marriage.
Before you are some documents that will help the world recognize what we all know: that Barbie and Shelley are a couple, committed and interdependent. |
 Priestess
Karen: The first document is the California State Declaration of Domestic
Partnership. Ordinarily, hospitals permit only "next of kin" visitation
rights in medical emergencies. A spouse is considered “next of kin”,
but since a domestic partner is not legally recognized as a “spouse”, she
is not “next of kin”. This document will give each the right to visit one
another under medical crisis. |
 Priestess
Kathy: This next document is a durable power of medical attorney.
What use would it be to only visit a loved one without helping make crucial
medical decisions on her behalf in case of incapacitation? |
 Priestess
Laura: And to make their medical decisions easier, each has an advance
medical directive, specifying her wishes in cases of need for medical attention. |
| Priestess
Kat: In the case that one of them become incapacitated, it is only
natural and fitting she should not become financially paralyzed.
This is a durable power of financial attorney, which allows each to make
financial decisions on the other’s behalf in case of mental or medical
incapacitation. |
| Priestess
Karen: All good things come to an end, as does life. When Barbie
or Shelley finally do depart from this physical plane, let it be known
to all that much of their assets are jointly held, and each has specified
that the other should take care of the disposition of that part of their
estate which is not jointly held. These wills state that intent,
and specify how their personal worldly goods should be treated. |
| Priestess
Laura: This document specifies what material contributions each has
made to their jointly held real property, and specifies how their co-mingled
assets should be separated if they chose to follow separate paths. |
| Priestess
Kathy: This document is the County of Los Angeles Statement of Domestic
Partnership, in which Barbie and Shelley have stated the following:
· they consider themselves to be domestic partners, · neither is married, · they are not related by blood in a manner which would bar marriage in the State of California, · they are each other’s sole domestic partner, · they consider themselves to be immediate family, · they have chosen to share each other’s lives in a committed and caring personal relationship, · they share a common household, · they share financial responsibility for joint household expenses, · they own real property together, · each has authorized the other to make decisions in case of medical emergency, · each has authorized the other to act on financial matters should one become unable to handle such matters, · and each has made provisions for the other through a last will and testament |
| Priestess
Karen: And finally, we have the ketubah. In Jewish tradition, a ketubah
is a marriage contract, a document responsibilities of one spouse to the
other. Usually it is signed by the betrothed, their one witness each,
and the rabbi, prior to the public ceremony. This is a modified ketubah,
the document of promises Barbie and Shelley make to one another.
And as you are all witnesses, we ask that you each sign your name to it
later this evening sometime during the reception. |
| Priestess
Kat: To make the legal documents binding and recognizable, we will
have them notarized here in your presence by a certified Notary Public |