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Registered partnership
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
| Family law |
|---|
| Entering into marriage |
| Prenuptial agreement · Marriage |
| Common-law marriage |
| Same-sex marriage |
| Legal states similar to marriage |
| Cohabitation · Civil union |
| Domestic partnership |
| Registered partnership |
| Dissolution of marriage |
| Annulment · Divorce · Alimony |
| Issues affecting children |
| Paternity · Legitimacy · Adoption |
| Legal guardian · Ward |
| Emancipation of minors |
| Parental responsibility |
| Contact (including Visitation) |
| Residence in English law |
| Custody · Child support |
| Areas of possible legal concern |
| Spousal abuse · Child abuse |
| Child abduction |
| Adultery · Bigamy · Incest |
| Conflict of Laws Issues |
| Marriage · Nullity · Divorce |
| Same-sex civil unions |
| Recognized nationwide in: |
| Denmark (1989) | Norway (1993) |
| Israel1 (1994) | Sweden (1995) |
| Greenland (1996) | Hungary1 (1996) |
| Iceland (1996) | France (1999) |
| Germany (2001) | Portugal (2001) |
| Finland (2002) | Croatia1 (2003) |
| Austria1 (2003) | Luxembourg (2004) |
| New Zealand (2005) | United Kingdom (2005) |
| Andorra (2005) | Czech Republic (2006) |
| Slovenia (2006) | Switzerland (2007) |
| Colombia (2007) |
| Was recognized before legalization of same-sex marriage in: |
| Netherlands (nationwide) (1998) |
| Spain (12 of 17 communities) (1998) |
| South Africa2 (1999) |
| Belgium (nationwide) (2000) |
| Canada (QC, NS and MB)3 (2001) |
| Recognized in some regions in: |
| United States (6 states+DC) (1997) : |
| Argentina (Buenos Aires, Rio Negro) (2003) |
| Australia (Tasmania) (2004) |
| Italy (Some municipallies) (2004) |
| Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) (2004) |
| Mexico (Mexico City and Coahuila) (2007) |
| Recognition debated in: |
| Argentina |
| Australia |
| Austria |
| Brazil |
| Chile |
| Costa Rica |
| Greece |
| Ireland |
| Italy |
| Liechtenstein |
| Mexico |
| Poland |
| Taiwan |
| United States |
| Uruguay |
| Notes: |
| 1 - In form of unregistered cohabitation. |
| 2 - Explicitly referred to as the "civil unions Act" in South Africa. |
| 3 - Explicitly referred to as "civil unions" in Quebec (2002), and called "domestic partnership" in Nova Scotia (2001). In Manitoba (2002) and marriage extended to same-sex partners nationwide (2005). |
| See also |
| Same-sex marriage |
| Registered partnership |
| Domestic partnership |
| Common-law marriage |
| Marriage, unions and partnerships by country |
| Homosexuality laws of the world
|
Registered partnership is one of several terms synonymous with a civil union or civil partnership similar to marriage, typically created in order to provide same-sex couples the legal and social benefits of traditional marriage and thus could be described as quasi marriages. The term is used in the Scandinavian countries, The Netherlands and Switzerland. The same concept under slight different terminology can also be found in Germany and the United Kingdom. Denmark was the first country in the world to offer registered partnerships to same-sex couples, beginning on June 7, 1989. The first union created under this new law took place on October 1, 1989 between Axel and Eigil Axgil.
Registered partnerships in these countries are nearly equal to marriage, with the exception of the right to adopt and to marry in a church. In Sweden, however, same-sex couples were given the right to adopt children in 2002. Iceland will legalize adoption as well by the end of 2006. Norway allows adoption of a registered partner's children only.
The main argument against registered partnership is that it creates a situation of separate but equal, called "marriage apartheid" by some. Others claim that these partnerships allow same-sex marriage by another name.
It is expected that same-sex couples in Scandinavia, Iceland, and Finland will soon be granted the right to marry, perhaps as early as 2007 in Sweden.[1]
In other places, registered partnerships have been instituted by municipalities in recognition of same-sex relationships. These partnerships are often merely nominal, conferring few actual benefits or obligations.
Recent book by Darren Spedale and William Eskridge, Jr. on the Scandinavian Registered Partnership laws: [2]
Recent article by Darren Spedale, William Eskridge, Jr. and Hans Ytterberg on the effect of the Registered Partnership Laws on society: [3]
Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples, list of municipalities in the United States and some other countries where same-sex couples can register: [4]
Laws permitting civil unions or domestic partnerships
Same sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships prohibited
U Civil Union when same sex marriage not allowed
M? Same sex marriage allowed soon ?
P Domestic partnership when same sex marriage not allowed
No state law banning same sex marriage (however, judicial or executive rulings prevent same sex marriage)
State law banning same sex marriage
Amendment bans same-sex marriage
Amendment bans same-sex marriage and civil unions
Bans gay marriage, civil unions, and any marriage-like contract between unmarried persons