In some states, a domestic partnership is a legally recognized relationship between members of a same-sex couple, with rights similar to those of a marriage relationship.
In Connecticut, domestic partnerships are not specifically recognized as a legal status because Connecticut has legalized same-sex marriage. Since 2008, same-sex couples have had the right to marry, providing them with the same legal rights, benefits, and obligations as heterosexual married couples. This includes matters related to inheritance, property rights, and decision-making in healthcare. Domestic partnerships or civil unions that were established before the legalization of same-sex marriage were converted to marriages if not dissolved before October 1, 2010. Therefore, in Connecticut, the concept of a domestic partnership as a separate legal entity from marriage does not apply, as same-sex couples have the same access to marriage as opposite-sex couples.