A domestic partner is a person who is in a committed, intimate relationship with another adult, living together and sharing a common domestic life without being married to each other. This relationship can be between same-sex or opposite-sex partners. Domestic partnerships often provide certain legal benefits and protections similar to marriage, such as hospital visitation rights, inheritance rights, and health insurance coverage, but the extent of these rights varies by jurisdiction. Key characteristics of a domestic partnership generally include:
- Both partners are each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely.
- They maintain a common residence or intend to do so.
- Both are adults (usually 18 or older) and mentally competent to consent.
- They share financial responsibilities.
- They are not married or in a civil union with anyone else.
- They are not closely related in a way that would prohibit legal marriage.
- They provide documentation to prove the partnership and understand the legal implications of falsification.
Domestic partnerships can be established by contract or registration with a government entity, depending on local laws. Some places require registration to access specific legal protections, while others recognize the partnership through cohabitation and mutual commitment alone. Since legalization of same- sex marriage in many places, domestic partnerships remain an option for couples who want legal recognition and benefits without marrying. In summary, a domestic partner is essentially a committed, unmarried cohabiting partner with whom one shares a domestic life and certain legal rights, distinct from marriage but recognized in various legal and employment contexts
