Domestic Partnership Benefits

Domestic partnerships are a form of union under which gay couples in some states or regions can formalize their partnerships. However, the benefits awarded to domestic partners fall short of the benefits of full legal marriage.

Below are the U.S. states that allow gay domestic partnerships (also see the list of places where gay partnerships are legal around the world).

California: California law grants domestic partnership to same-sex couples that meet the following criteria:Are at least age 18, unmarried, and not in another domestic partnership.Share a residence.Agree to be jointly responsible for one another's basic living expenses.Not be related in a way that would prevent them from legally marrying one another under California law.
Benefits of Domestic Partnership Under California Law: tort claims for spouses of injured or deceased people, including negligent infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death.Stepparent adoption.Continued health coverage for domestic partners and their dependent children upon the death of a covered state or local government employee.Death benefits and survivors' allowances for covered domestic partners in San Francisco (and San Mateo County if approved by its county board of supervisors).Health care decision-making on behalf of patients in some circumstances.Domestic partnership coverage options that group health care and disability plans must offer employers and associations whose plans cover spouses.Family and bereavement leave.Conservatorship, property transfer, revocation of bequests, statutory wills, and some estate administration rules.Personal income tax deductions for health insurance costs.Unemployment eligibility when an employee quits a job to accompany a relocating domestic partner.Disability claims-filing authority on behalf of incapacitated partners.
District of Columbia (D.C.): Benefits of Domestic Partnership Under District of Columbia (D.C.) Law: Hospital visitation rights.Domestic partnership registry in the mayor's office.Health insurance coverage for partners of district government employees.Family or bereavement leave.
Hawaii: Benefits of "Reciprocal Beneficiary" Relationships Under Hawaii Law: Any two unmarried people who are legally prohibited from marrying under state law (i. e., close relatives and same-sex couples) can register and qualify for some benefits that were previously available only to married couples.Hospital visitation privileges.Authority to sue for wrongful death.Family and bereavement leave.Treatment as spouses under some inheritance laws.
Maine: Benefits of Domestic Partnership Under Maine Law:
Oregon By state law, Oregon domestic partners are granted all the privileges, immunities, rights and benefits given to married couples in the State.
Washington: Benefits of Domestic Partnership Under Washington State Law: Hospital visitation privileges.Authority to authorize autopsies and organ donations in case of death.Inheritance rights.State employee partnership health benefits.State employee partnership pension benefits.

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