Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Christy Bieber, J.D. ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Written By Christy Bieber, J.D. ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Christy Bieber, J.D. ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.
Contributor Jeffrey Johnson, J.D. Deputy Legal EditorJeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or.
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D. Deputy Legal EditorJeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or.
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D. Deputy Legal EditorJeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or.
Jeffrey Johnson, J.D. Deputy Legal EditorJeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or.
| Deputy Legal Editor
Updated: Mar 5, 2024, 12:56pm
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Domestic partnerships are an alternative to traditional marriage. This type of legal arrangement became popular among LGBTQ+ couples who were not allowed to get married in many places across the United States.
While domestic partnerships have declined in popularity since the U.S. Supreme Court determined a constitutional right to marriage in a case called Obergefell v. Hodges, some states continue to recognize these arrangements. And some people—including both straight and gay couples—may still choose to enter into this type of partnership rather than become legally wed.
If you are deciding between domestic partnership vs. marriage, here’s what you need to know about each option.
Marriage is both a religious institution and a civil partnership. It is recognized as a special relationship by state and federal governments. When you get married, you receive a marriage certificate from the state. Your new legal status as a married person with a spouse confers many benefits, including the following:
Before the Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015, not everyone could marry and access these benefits. Since marriage equality became U.S. law, many people now choose marriage—and its additional benefits—over domestic partnership.
A domestic partnership is a relationship that comes with legal recognition in some states but not on the federal level. They are allowed statewide in Connecticut and New Jersey.
A few states allow domestic partnerships for state employees. These include Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.
In other states, domestic partnerships are recognized in specific cities or counties but not statewide. States in which there is no right to domestic partnerships at the state or local level include:
This type of partnership allows the state to recognize a relationship and provides some benefits of marriage without officially tying the knot. Before the Obergefell ruling, some states offered a type of domestic partnership called a civil union, which offered as many state benefits as possible. No state currently offers a civil union anymore.
Here are some of the biggest differences between domestic partnerships and marriage:
It’s important to consider these key differences to decide which type of relationship is best for you.
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ContributorChristy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has appeared on Forbes, CNN Underscored Money, Investopedia, Credit Karma, The Balance, USA Today, and Yahoo Finance, among others.
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