Cognizable Counterclaim for Breach of Domestic Partnership Stated

In finding defendant had stated a legally cognizable counterclaim for breach of a domestic partnership agreement, the Fourth Department explained:

With respect to domestic partnership agreements, “New York courts have long accepted the concept that an express agreement between unmarried persons living together is as enforceable as though they were not living together . . . , provided only that illicit sexual relations were not ‘part of the consideration of the contract’ ” … .  Additionally, there is no statutory requirement that such a contract be in writing … .  We conclude that here defendant sufficiently pleaded counterclaims for breach of a domestic partnership agreement and that the court therefore erred in dismissing the fourth and fifth counterclaims … . Ramos v Hughes, 866, 4th Dept 9-27-13