Domestic Partner Benefits

Washington and Lee University extends the same benefits to persons who meet the University's definition of domestic partner that the University extends to spouses of employees, to the extent permitted by law and by the underwriting guidelines imposed by the insurance companies. The inclusion of domestic partner coverage in W&L's benefit program is consistent with the University's dedication to non-discriminatory practices and represents a commitment to remain competitive in the recruiting of new faculty and staff.

A domestic partner is an unrelated adult of the same or opposite sex of the employee with whom the employee is living in an intimate, long-term relationship with an exclusive commitment similar to marriage, in which the partners are jointly responsible for one another's welfare and share financial obligations. The following must apply in order to qualify for benefits:

• We are both at least eighteen years old and competent to consent to contract.
• We are not married or legally separated from anyone else.
• We are not related by blood to a degree of closeness that prohibits legal marriage in the state in which we reside.
• We are engaged in a committed and exclusive relationship of mutual caring and support and are jointly responsible for each other's common welfare and share financial obligations; documentation for this interdependence can be provided if requested.
• This relationship has been in existence for at least six months with the expectation that it will continue indefinitely.
• We are not in this relationship solely for the purpose of obtaining coverage.

Complete the Declaration of Domestic Partner Form.

Normally, health and dental premiums for your partner and their children (if you are enrolling them) are taxed. If you meet the IRS Code Section 152 as modified by 105(b) allowing for pre-tax health and dental premiums for your domestic partners and their children, then you should also complete the Declaration of Tax-Dependent Status Form.