Westside : JOINT CUSTODY

Unmarried couples living together in rent-controlled Santa Monica apartments will soon be able to file a new form with City Hall: an “affidavit of domestic partnership.” If love fades, couples may file a “notice of revocation of domestic partnership.”

These innovations, along with another measure designed to outlaw tenant harassment by landlords, represent the city’s attempt to protect tenants from unfair eviction now that the Legislature has overridden several provisions of the city’s tough rent control law. If the couple split up or one partner dies, the other thus becomes entitled to stay in the apartment as a spouse would.

Not just any couple may file the affidavit of domestic partnership. You cannot have been living with a different mate during the previous six months.