Life Partnership allows same-sex couples to have their long-term committed relationship officially recognized by the City of Philadelphia. It also gives same-sex couples certain rights and benefits that are available to opposite-sex married couples and their dependents/families. These benefits include: 

• Allowing an employee to make his/her Life Partner eligible to receive health benefits on various employee benefit plans
• Allowing an employee to make his/her Life Partner a beneficiary under the City’s retirement plan
• Allowing a homeowner to transfer property to his/her Life Partner without having to pay property transfer taxes

To have your relationship recognized as a Life Partnership, you need to register with our office and provide supporting documents as evidence of your relationship. There is no fee for registration. However, an optional Certificate of Life Partnership is available for a $10.

If, after becoming Life Partners, your relationship ends, you must notify us by filing a Life Partnership Termination Statement.