The voluntary domestic partnership registry would be administered by the city recorder's office. Those wanting to register would first obtain from the city a Declaration of Domestic Partnership form, which must be signed by both parties and notarized. It then would be kept on file in the city recorder's office.

According to the mayor's office, the city has legal authority to create a domestic partnership registry under the general welfare clause of Utah code, which grants the city the power to "preserve the health and promote the prosperity, improve the morals, peace and good order, comfort and convenience of the city and its inhabitants."

The mayor's office also contends that the ordinance does not conflict with the state statute defining marriage.

"Our city attorney feels we are on rock-solid ground in terms of what's allowable under Utah state law," Becker said.

Former Mayor Rocky Anderson talked about starting a similar a domestic-partner registry in August 2005, but Love says it was never formally proposed to the City Council. Still, the legal groundwork already was in place when Becker began working on the ordinance with city attorneys.

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