{"id":351794,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:34","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/domestic-partnerships\/domestic-partner-benefits.html"},"modified":"2025-02-26T16:11:00","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T21:11:00","slug":"domestic-partner-benefits","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/domestic-partnerships\/domestic-partner-benefits.html","title":{"rendered":"Domestic Partner Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Domestic Partner Benefits<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

\n

Domestic partnerships give unmarried partners in committed relationships certain protections associated with marriage. Benefits vary by employer and location, and partners may choose this arrangement to avoid certain implications of marriage. But, domestic partnerships do not receive the same federal recognition as marriages, affecting tax treatment and federal benefit programs. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Domestic partnerships<\/a> were created in the 1980s. At the time, same-sex couples struggled for legal rights and recognition as couples. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional in the court case of Obergefell v. Hodges<\/i><\/a>. Now, same-sex couples<\/a> are now free to marry.<\/p>\n

Some cities, states<\/a>, and private companies continue offering cohabitating partners domestic partnership benefits. These are couples who wish not to marry but want to get certain work-related benefits. Typically, domestic partner benefits are similar to those available to married spouses.<\/p>\n

This article looks at the current laws about domestic partnerships in the U.S.<\/p>\n

What Is a Domestic Partnership?<\/h2>\n

Domestic partner benefit plans often include:<\/p>\n