A domestic partnership – officially recognized in some states and municipalities but not by the federal government – represents a committed relationship between two people, but it does not confer the same rights and protections as marriage.[efn_note]“Domestic Partnership vs. Marriage: Differences, Pros & Cons” Forbes. Mar. 5, 2024[/efn_note] Same-sex couples no longer need to rely on domestic partnerships since they can legally marry in every state as a result of the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. But as cohabitation rates have increased in the U.S.,[efn_note]“Age Variation in Cohabitation, 2022” Bowling Green State University. Accessed June 4, 2024[/efn_note] some couples – gay or straight – choose to enter into a domestic partnership rather than marriage, in the areas where this is an option. Since domestic partnerships are not recognized or defined by the federal government, the specifics vary by state and by city (including whether domestic partnerships are recognized, and if so, what’s required in terms of how long the couple has cohabitated, financial interdependence, etc.). In some cases, registered domestic partnerships are only available to state employees[efn_note]“Domestic Partnership vs. Marriage: Differences, Pros & Cons” Forbes. Mar. 5, 2024[/efn_note] or local government employees.[efn_note]“State Laws: Domestic Partnerships” FindLaw.com. Oct. 5, 2023[/efn_note]