A domestic partnership is one way to prove you and your partner are a family eligible for DHS shelter. You can also prove your family status if you and your partner are married, if you share a child in common, or if one of you relies on the other for help with daily living activities due to a disability. For more information about applying for shelter as a family with children under 21 or an adult family, see the links.

You and your partner can get a Domestic Partnership if:

• You both live in New York City OR at least one of you works in the City of New York;
• You are both at least 18 years old;
• Neither of you is married to someone else;
• You have a committed relationship, which means you live together and share finances with each other;
• You both have the same residential address; AND
• Neither of you is in a Domestic Partnership with anyone else.

• Make an appointment online.
• Submit your application online through the Office of the City Clerk.
• Go to the City Clerk’s office for your Appointment with your partner.
• Bring one of the valid forms of identification and the fee of $35.
• Valid forms of identification include:
  • IDNYC
  • Driver’s license or ID card from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Original Birth Certificate
  • Passport
  • School Record
  • U.S. Permanent Resident Card
  • Employee ID Card

It costs $35, in cash or check to the City Clerk, to register a Domestic Partnership. 

In New York State, Domestic Partnerships have some rights, including:

• Visiting rights at City jails or hospitals
• Health Benefits for City employees and their families
• Qualifying status as a family member for a NYC Housing Authority rental
• Inheritance of tenancy or occupancy rights

Since domestic partners are not married, they do not get other benefits that married couples do, such as:

• State income tax breaks
• Spousal rights, like private conversations
• Inheritance or life insurance rights (unless mentioned in a will)

A common law marriage is a legal marriage that is recognized by some states, even if a couple never gets married but they live together for a long time. However, New York does not recognize common law marriages. This means that even if a couple has lived together and acted as a married couple for many years, they would not be considered legally married. In New York, the only way to legally recognize your relationship is through a marriage or a domestic partnership.

To end a domestic partnership, you or your partner must file a Termination Statement in person. Make an appointment online.

The information in this document has been prepared by The Legal Aid Society for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information without retaining professional legal counsel