## Domestic partnerships and civil unions in Wisconsin
Before Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) made same-sex marriage legal nationwide, many states created **civil unions** or **domestic partnerships** as marriage-equivalent or marriage-lite alternatives. Most states with civil unions converted them to marriages after 2015. Some states still have active domestic-partnership programs — sometimes open to opposite-sex couples too.
### Wisconsin status
Domestic Partnership Registry (limited rights, 2009-2017; can no longer register but existing recognized).
## Domestic partnership vs civil union vs marriage
**Marriage** — recognized in every state and federally. Full rights (taxes, immigration, Social Security, military benefits, IRS recognition).
**Civil union** — state-level recognition with marriage-equivalent rights. NOT recognized federally — leaves out Social Security, military spouse benefits, IRS joint filing, immigration spouse status. Most states have phased out.
**Domestic partnership** — varies hugely:
- **Marriage-equivalent** (CA, NV, WA, NJ, OR, DC) — same state-law rights as marriage
- **Limited rights** (ME, WI grandfathered, HI Reciprocal Beneficiary) — some specific rights only
- **Local-only** — some cities offer registries with municipal-employee benefits, hospital visitation, but no broader legal recognition
## What domestic partnerships typically provide (state-level)
- **Hospital visitation rights**
- **Medical decision-making authority**
- **State employee benefits** — health insurance for partners
- **State income tax filing** as joint
- **Property rights** at separation
- **Inheritance rights** under state intestacy
- **Standing in wrongful-death actions**
- **Domestic-violence protection-order eligibility**
- **Child-related rights** in some states
## What domestic partnerships do NOT provide
- **Federal tax benefits** — DPs file federal taxes as single
- **Federal Social Security spousal / survivor benefits**
- **Immigration sponsorship** — no spouse-based green card
- **Military spouse benefits**
- **Federal employee benefits** in many cases
- **Recognition in non-recognizing states** — can be an issue when traveling or moving
## Should you marry vs domestic-partnership where both available
After Obergefell, marriage is generally the better option for most couples because:
- Federal benefits matter substantially
- Recognition is universal
- Tax treatment is more flexible
- Immigration sponsorship is unique to marriage
**Reasons to choose DP over marriage anyway:**
- One partner has a Social Security disability benefit that would be lost on remarriage
- One partner has a pension with restrictions on marriage
- One partner is in a country where same-sex marriage isn't recognized (less of an issue post-Obergefell domestically)
- Religious or personal objections to marriage as institution
- DP came first, partners haven't decided to formally marry
## Ending a domestic partnership
Domestic partnerships generally must be dissolved through a formal court process — similar to divorce:
- **CA, NJ, OR, NV, WA** — full divorce-equivalent process for DPs
- **State-residency requirements** apply for dissolution
- **Property division and support** determined under state DP law
- **Child custody and support** — same as marriage
If you registered as DPs but later married, the DP usually merges into the marriage automatically.
## Recognition between states
Domestic partnerships do NOT enjoy the same Full Faith and Credit protection as marriages:
- A CA DP may not be recognized in a non-DP state
- An IL civil union may be treated as marriage, civil union, or nothing depending on the destination state
- Travel with kids can become complicated when one parent is the legal parent in one state but not another
**Confirmatory adoption** or **second-parent adoption** is strongly recommended for same-sex couples with children — adoption portably establishes the parent-child relationship in EVERY state.
## What you should do
If you're considering a domestic partnership in Wisconsin: weigh marriage vs DP carefully. If you're already in a DP and want to change to marriage (or vice versa), the rules vary. Talk to a Wisconsin family-law attorney — most offer paid initial consultations and can map out the consequences for you.
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*This guide is general information about Wisconsin law as of early 2026 and is not legal advice. Domestic-partnership law has shifted significantly post-Obergefell. Talk to a licensed Wisconsin family-law attorney about your specific situation.*
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change and outcomes depend on your specific situation — talk to a licensed attorney before acting on anything you read here.