Connecticut and New Jersey recognize domestic partnerships statewide for any couples who meet the state requirements. In Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, domestic partnership health benefits are available to state employees.
An Affidavit of Cohabitation is a sworn statement attesting to the fact that two individuals have lived together as husband and wife for a specified period. It is a legal document typically executed under oath before a notary public.
Provide documentation or evidence of your domestic partnership, such as joint bank account statements, shared leases, or shared bills. Include copies of these documents with your verification form. Sign and date the verification form, certifying that all the information provided is true and accurate.
As such, you can add a domestic partner, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend, to your health insurance. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, you will need to provide your employer with the document recognizing your domestic partnership. This could be any of the following: Affidavit of domestic partnership.
Pennsylvania in general does not have any laws requiring the recognition of same sex domestic partners for insurance benefits, but many companies do allow it based upon their contracts with their insurers.
As Pennsylvania does not recognize domestic partnerships either, any separation or dissolution of the partnership would be dictated by the terms of a cohabitation agreement, if one is in place.
Domestic partners qualifying under this exception are entitled to the same benefits as spouses for health and leave purposes. Additionally, domestic partner health benefits may not be personal income for tax purposes in some cases.
Pennsylvania is one of those five states. A couple no longer can enter into a common law marriage in Pennsylvania, but if you were common law married on or before Jan. 1, 2005, your marriage is still valid and recognized by the state. New Jersey does not recognize common law marriages.
Some Pennsylvania Cities Do Recognize Domestic Partnerships City of Pittsburgh (limited to same-sex couples) City of Allentown (limited to same-sex couples and requires one individual to be a city employee) City of Philadelphia (Available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples)