BNY Mellon Benefits Guide
Qualified Domestic Partner Definition
BNY Mellon defines qualified domestic partners as two same- or opposite-sex people in a spouse-like relationship who have each met each of the following requirements:
- are each other's sole qualified domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely;
- are at least age 18 and competent to enter into a legal contract;
- are not related in a way that would prevent them from being legally married;
- are not legally married to anyone else, and any prior marriages have been dissolved through death or divorce;
- are not qualified domestic partners with anyone else, and any prior qualified domestic partnerships have been terminated;
- have joint responsibility for each other's welfare and financial obligations;
- share a household that is the primary residence of both (although they may live apart for reasons of education, health care, work or military service); and
- are registered qualified domestic partners with any state or local government domestic partnership registry, if residing in a state or locality that provides qualified domestic partner registration.
You may be required to demonstrate proof of this relationship by submitting:
- a notarized Affidavit of Domestic Partnership (if residing in a state or locality that makes qualified domestic partner registration available); or
- two proofs of joint ownership in effect for at least the prior six months (including, but not limited to, joint bank account statements, joint credit card accounts, or joint ownership or a common leasehold interest in real property).
Per Department of Labor regulations, you are entitled to receive certain employee benefit plan disclosures free of charge in paper form. These documents include Summary Plan Descriptions, Summary of Material Modifications, Summary Annual Reports, Summary of Benefits and Coverage, and other required Legal Notices. You may also elect to receive these documents electronically.
If you consent to electronic delivery, please update your delivery preference through the MyBenefit Solutions website by selecting "Email" as your delivery preference. Each time a new document is available, you will receive an email notifying you it is ready for viewing. If no preference is selected, you will receive paper communications. You may revoke your consent to electronic delivery and request paper form copies at no charge by changing your preferences online or by contacting the BNY Mellon Benefit Solutions Service Center at 1-800-947-4748, option 2, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.