Expert Q&A

Since there are no current federal guidelines that state what a domestic partnership is, that answer is up to each individual state. It is becoming common practice for states to recognize a domestic partnership as a committed couple in a relationship (same sex or opposite sex) similar to a marriage, but with no official marriage license. So, this would mean that the couple would have similar characteristics of a marriage such as sharing a common residence and financial responsibility. Often times an insurance company will require proof of a committed relationship such as receipts and bills showing that you both share financial responsibility, a notarized document, or, in some states that it is available, a filed domestic partnership agreement from the city clerk’s office