CIVIL UNIONS AND DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

RECOGNIZED JURSIDICTIONS OTHER THAN NEW JERSEY

The State of New Jersey and the Division of Pensions and Benefits recognizes certain Civil Unions and Domestic Partnerships established in jurisdictions other than New Jersey. Whether these relationships are viewed as civil unions or as domestic partnerships with reference to New Jersey Law (Chapter 103, P.L. 2006, and Chapter 246, P.L. 2003) is dependent on whether the laws of the other jurisdiction provide benefits which are, or are not, substantially equivalent to marriage.

Due to the evolving nature of civil union and domestic partnership legislation,
the following lists may not indicate all jurisdictions recognized by the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

• Same-sex Relationships Recognized as Civil Unions in New Jersey: Civil unions formed in the states of Connecticut and Vermont, and same-sex marriages* performed in Massachusetts, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain will be recognized by New Jersey as a civil union. Domestic partnerships formed in California will also be recognized by New Jersey as a civil union as they substantially equivalent to marriage.

  *Whereas these jurisdictions provide for same-sex “marriage”, New Jersey considers it equal to a civil union, but does not recognize it officially as a “marriage”.

• Same-sex Relationships Recognized as Domestic Partnerships in New Jersey: Domestic partnerships formed in the states of Hawaii and Maine, or from the District of Columbia. These members are enrolled subject to the rules and limitations provided under the Domestic Partnership Act.
  
  Note: New Jersey same-sex domestic partnerships are only eligible for benefits if established prior to February 19, 2007.
  
  
• An employee or retiree who enters into a same-sex relationship recognized under a jurisdiction other than those listed above should contact the Division of Pensions and Benefits for further determination of eligibility for benefits.

For more information see Fact Sheet #75, Civil Unions Adobe PDF (51K)

Last update: November 10, 2009