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 Maryland, domestic partnerships were recognized prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, providing a legal status that granted certain rights to same-sex couples similar to those of marriage. However, since same-sex marriage became legal in Maryland in 2013, the significance of domestic partnerships has diminished. The state now treats same-sex marriages equally to opposite-sex marriages, with the same rights, responsibilities, and benefits under the law. Domestic partnerships may still be recognized in some local jurisdictions within Maryland for the purposes of extending certain benefits, but they do not provide the same comprehensive legal recognition or rights as marriage at the state level.