Montgomery County employers will be required to give the same benefits to a worker with a domestic partner as a married employee under a local law that goes into effect Jan. 1.

Under the county law, domestic partnership is defined as a same-sex relationship licensed as a civil union or marriage in another jurisdiction or an “unlicensed relationship between two individuals of the same sex who share a close personal relationship and are responsible for each other’s welfare; have shared the same legal residence for at least 12 months; are at least 18 years old.”