Domestic Partner Benefits Remain Popular but Present Challenges

Summary

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (135 S. Ct. 2071), which made same-sex marriage legal nationwide, appears to have had little effect on domestic partner benefits. Most states with domestic partnership registries before 2015 continue to provide registrations, and surveys indicate that employers continue to offer domestic partner benefits. Despite the acceptance and prevalence of domestic partner benefits, complex legal, tax, administration and other compliance issues come with the territory. Employers need to understand and effectively communicate these issues to employees with domestic partners.