Senate Bill 792 (passed) allows for registered domestic partnerships to have the same effect as marriage under various provisions of the Estates and Trusts Article of the Maryland Code. Among other things, it establishes (1) the requirements that must be met for a domestic partnership to be registered with the register of wills and how the domestic partnership may be terminated and (2) the benefits for which the surviving partner of a registered domestic partnership qualifies. The bill also removes certain terms from the definition of “child” under the Estates and Trusts Article and alters provisions governing the distribution of an intestate estate (an estate not distributed by a will).

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