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., Madelyn’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 getting 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 benefits.
For New York City-based Roman, and many other freelancers, that right to healthcare can be life-changing, especially since the number of freelancers is rising fast in the U.S. According to FlexJobs, the U.S. has 72 million independent workers, 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,” says Roman. “I need it for both my physical and mental health care 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 get 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,” says Brooke.
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,” says Gabrielle. “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 cost 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 Z work as full-time freelancers.
What are the requirements for a domestic partnership?
So, who can get a domestic partnership? With no nationwide law, state and local officials regulate domestic partnership availability and the rights they afforded.
Typical requirements include both people being 18 years of age 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. Notably, on November 3, domestic partnerships for polyamorous couples were approved in West Hollywood, California, the Los Angeles Times reports.
A domestic partnership is available in states such as California, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New York, Ohio, and Oregon.
What is the process of obtaining a domestic partnership?
The exact steps for getting a domestic partnership can vary, but typically, applicants
fill out a selection of personal questions online and get an appointment at their local courthouse. Questions might include straightforward things like “Where were you born?” and “Where do you live?” For Americans, whether it’s available where you live, and what the process looks like there, should be available on your state or city’s website.
As Gabrielle explains, “We filled out an application online, then just brought our identification to the courthouse and they gave us a certificate of domestic partnership. You could literally get one in five minutes.”
Roman seconds that: “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.”
The domestic partnerships are often done 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 the partner’s employee healthcare allows domestic partners to join it. Finding out if the option is available to non-spouses is a critical step before pursuing a domestic partnership.
A domestic partnership can also be limiting in that it doesn’t offer the same federal benefits and doesn’t allow the pair to file joint taxes.
Each of the women emphasize how grateful they are to have this option available to them.
“It allows me freedom to make income without having to tie it to healthcare,” says Roman. “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.”
Brooke echoes that statement, thankful for her partner and this option to access her medication.
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.”
