Domestic partner or domestic partnership identifies the personal relationship between individuals who are living together and sharing a common domestic life together but are not joined in any type of legal partnership, marriage or civil union. Some legal jurisdictions recognize that individuals who live together after a long period of time, while not entitled to common-law marriage status may be entitled to some protection under the legal concept of domestic partnership. In some places parties that live together enter into domestic partnership agreements in order to contractually agree to certain issues between them in relation to joint property ownership, support obligations and similar issues to that found in marriage. See effects of marriage and palimony.
In some jurisdictions domestic partnerships are created by statute rather than having been the invention of judicial decisions. One of the reason for the creation of the relation of domestic partnership is to recognize the contribution of one partner to the property of the other. In the common law such devices such as the constructive trust are available to protect spouses, in legal marriage or in common-law marriage. In civil law jurisdictions this type of legal concept is generally not available so courts have tried to find alternative ways to protect the partner who has contributed to the other partner's property.
Some jurisdictions have instituted domestic partnerships as a way to recognize same-sex unions. See also same-sex marriage.
On September 4, 2003 the California legislature passed an expanded domestic partnership bill. The state assembly approved a measure to extend nearly all the legal rights of married couples to people in same-sex partnerships. Signed by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bill became law on Jan 1, 2005. [1] (http://www.nbc11.com/politics/2453726/detail.html)New Jersey passed such a bill on January 8, 2004. [2] (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/08/nj_senate_oks_legal_rights_for_same_sex_couples_governor_expected_to_sign/)Maine's legislature and governor approved (http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=272) a domestic partnership law in April of 2004.
A domesticpartner may be broadly defined as a person with whom one cohabits in a committed relationship without the sanction of a legal marriage.
Domesticpartners and their dependents who are not considered as "qualifying beneficiaries" under federal COBRA provisions will not be eligible to continue their coverage under COBRA after any event that would otherwise give rise to COBRA rights, such as termination of employment or the relationship.
Domesticpartners are defined as any two adults, of the same or different sex, who have registered as domesticpartners with a governmental entity pursuant to state or local law, or with an internal registry maintained by the employer.
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