When Madelyn Roman, 31, wanted to go freelance, the biggest barrier she faced wasn’t how she would make money, but how she would afford healthcare.
Like many people in the U.S., Roman’s health insurance was tied to her employer. But then she learned about a way to get health insurance through her fiancé. (And no, it wasn’t pushing forward the wedding.)
Once a common method for same-sex couples to gain basic rights previously denied to them but long associated with “traditional” marriage, ranging from shared healthcare to inheritance, couples of all sexual orientations are now entering domestic partnerships as a precursor—or alternative—to marriage.
In the U.S., domestic partnerships can offer benefits such as access to a partner’s employee healthcare, hospital visitation rights, and veteran’s benefits.
For New York City-based Roman, that right to healthcare can be life-changing. And she’s not alone. According to FlexJobs, there are 72 million independent workers in the U.S., a number that is expected to rise to 86.5 million next year.
“As a healthcare professional myself, I’ve always taken advantage of my insurance plan,” she says. “I need it for both my physical and mental healthcare services, which I rely on. Life is too unpredictable to go without coverage. Now I have so much freedom to do what I want to do and to work how I want to work.”
Ohio-based Brooke had already made the jump to freelancing while on her parents’ insurance. She was getting closer to aging out of their coverage, but Brooke and her partner weren’t ready to get married. (Some sources in this story withheld their last name for privacy reasons.)
Yet, with multiple high-risk health conditions, Brooke couldn’t risk any gap in coverage. The couple chose to enter into a domestic partnership. “We both acknowledged my desperate need for healthcare and are in a committed, loving relationship, so a domestic partnership felt like the best option for us,” Brooke says.
For other couples, the ability to freelance is a bonus to what they see as a way to commit without getting married. Gabrielle, 31, and her partner for a number of years aren’t in a rush to get married. When her coworker mentioned the domestic partnership option, it sounded like the perfect alternative.
As they were making the decision, Gabrielle, also based in New York City, was offered an exciting freelance role in advertising. “This job opportunity came up, and the timing kind of aligned perfectly with taking this next step in our relationship,” she says. “I would’ve done it job offer or no job offer, but it felt like a little nod from the universe that I was on the right path.”
A domestic partnership can be a great way to show your commitment without the expense of a wedding. According to the Knot, the average U.S. wedding cost $34,000 in 2025. The average cost per guest rose to $292 from $214 in 2019. Meanwhile, domestic partnerships rarely come in at over $50.
Domestic partnerships appear especially popular with younger generations. The New York Times reports that the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office registered domestic partnerships for 3,686 millennials and 460 Gen Zers, out of 6,004 in total for 2019. Just five years later, those numbers rose to 4,106 millennials and 1,774 Gen Zers, out of 6,910.
A 2024 Upwork study found that 53% of Gen Zers work as full-time freelancers.
What are the requirements for a domestic partnership?
So, who can enter into a legally binding domestic partnership? With no nationwide law, domestic partnerships and the rights they afford are regulated by state and local officials.
Typical requirements include both people being 18 or older, currently living together, and not related in any way that would ban a marriage.
It’s usually required that neither person is in a domestic partnership or marriage already. Notably, on November 3 domestic partnerships for polyamorous couples were approved in West Hollywood, California, the Los Angeles Times reports.
In addition to California, states that recognize domestic partnerships include Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Oregon.
What is the process of obtaining a domestic partnership?
The exact steps for entering into a domestic partnership vary, but typically applicants fill out a selection of personal questions online and get an appointment at their local courthouse. Questions can be as straightforward as “Where were you born?” and “Where do you live?” Check your state or city’s government website to determine whether the option is available where you live.
“We filled out an application online, then just brought our identification to the courthouse and they gave us a certificate of domestic partnership,” Gabrielle says. “You could literally get one in five minutes.”
Roman also describes a relatively easy process: “When our number was called, we simply walked up to the window, provided our proof and confirmation number, and paid the small fee. Simple as that. We were then handed an official paper that proves we are domestic partners.”
Domestic partnerships are often processed in the same area as courthouse marriages. Roman remembers how some couples showed up in sweatpants, while others were dressed up with a photographer in tow. “Slightly crumpled paper hearts lined the walls, but it was charming,” she says.
From there, they each registered on their partner’s employee health insurance and got freelancing.
One catch to keep in mind is whether or not your partner’s employee healthcare plan allows domestic partners to join. Finding out if the option is available to a non-spouse is a critical step before pursuing a domestic partnership.
The arrangement can also be limiting in that it doesn’t offer the same federal benefits as marriage and doesn’t allow the pair to file joint taxes. Still, each of the people Fast Company spoke to for this story emphasized how grateful they are to have the option available to them.
“It allows me freedom to make income without having to tie it to healthcare,” Roman says. “The job change has been both liberating and great for my mental health. I’m lucky to have such a supportive partner, and to live in a city that provides this option.”
As to whether she would recommend a domestic partnership to other people, Gabrielle puts it simply: “If one partner has a stable, full-time job and the other wants to take a risk, go for it.”