Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18 § 59.18.912
Construction -- Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships -- 2009 c 521.
Operative Text
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, at Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.912, extends the chapter's protections and obligations to state registered domestic partners on equal footing with married spouses. Terms like 'spouse,' 'husband,' 'wife,' 'family,' and 'next of kin' are read to include domestic partners, and references to divorce or dissolution cover the termination of domestic partnerships as well. This interpretive rule applies throughout the chapter unless doing so would conflict with federal law, and gender-specific terms are read as gender-neutral where needed to carry out the 2009 legislation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.912, property owners and managers operating under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act treat state registered domestic partners the same as married spouses in all contexts where the chapter uses family- or marriage-related terms. Compliant operators apply this equivalence when evaluating tenancy rights, occupancy, succession, and any other provision that references marital status or family relationships. Policies and lease practices that distinguish between married couples and state registered domestic partners in ways the chapter does not authorize would be inconsistent with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Wash. Rev. Code § 59.18.912 means that tenants in state registered domestic partnerships hold the same rights under Washington's Residential Landlord-Tenant Act as married tenants, including rights tied to terms like 'family,' 'next of kin,' or 'spouse.' If a landlord treats a domestic partnership differently from a marriage in a way that affects tenancy rights under the chapter, that disparity may be raised as a concern under this provision. Tenants who believe their domestic-partnership status has been used to deny them rights available to married tenants may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review complaint options available through Washington's courts or relevant state agencies.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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