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Simple English definitions for legal terms
domestic partnership
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A quick definition of domestic partnership:
A domestic partnership is when two people who are not married, but live together as a couple for a long time. It can be between two people of the same gender or different genders. Sometimes, employers or the government will recognize this relationship as similar to marriage and offer benefits to the partner of an employee. Another word for domestic partner is "significant other."
A more thorough explanation:
A domestic partnership is a relationship between two people who live together as a couple for a significant period of time. This relationship can be between two people of the same sex or opposite sex. It is not a marriage, but it is recognized by some employers and governmental entities as equivalent to marriage for the purpose of extending employee-partner benefits that are usually reserved for spouses of employees.
- John and Jane have been living together for five years. They consider themselves to be in a domestic partnership.
- Tom and Mike have been together for ten years and have a domestic partnership. Tom's employer offers health insurance benefits to domestic partners, so Mike is covered under the plan.
The examples illustrate that a domestic partnership is a committed relationship between two people who live together for a significant period of time. It is not a marriage, but it can provide some of the same benefits as marriage, such as access to health insurance. Domestic partnerships are recognized by some employers and governmental entities, but not all.