Civil unions in Belgium

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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)

Luxembourg (2004) | New Zealand (2005)

United Kingdom (2005) | Andorra (2005)

Czech Republic1 (2006) | Slovenia (2006)

Switzerland (starting 2007)

Was recognized before legalization of same-sex marriage in:

Netherlands (nationwide) (1998)

Spain (12 of 14 communities) (1998)

South Africa (1999)

Belgium (nationwide) (2000)

Canada (QC, NS and MB)2 (2000)

Recognized in some regions in:

United States (6 states) (1997)

Argentina (Buenos Aires, Rio Negro) (2003)

Australia (Tasmania, ACT) (2004)

Italy (Some municipallies) (2004)

Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) (2004)

Mexico (Mexico City) (2006)

Recognition debated in:

Australia

Austria

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Liechtenstein

Mexico (Coahuila)

Mexico (Colima)

Poland

United States

Uruguay

Notes:

1 - In form of common-law marriage.

2 - Explicitly referred to as "civil unions" in Quebec (2002), and called "domestic partnership" in Nova Scotia (2001). In Manitoba (2002), common-law marriage extended to same-sex partners nationwide (2000).

See also

Same-sex marriage

Registered partnership

Domestic partnership

Common-law marriage

Marriage, unions and partnerships by country

Homosexuality laws of the world

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The act of 23 November 1998 granted statutory cohabitation in Belgium. The act gives limited rights to registered same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Marriage was later opened for same-sex couples in 2003 with the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex married partners. Neither partner needs to be a Belgian citizen.

[edit] Exceptions

Belgian law does not provide for presumed paternity for the female spouse of a married woman who gives birth during their marriage. There is no provision for joint parental responsibility, nor for adoption by a same-sex partner or a same-sex couple.

At the moment, the Belgian parliament is considering giving same-sex couples the right to adopt children.

[edit] See also

• Same-sex marriage in Belgium

[edit] External links

• Wikinations - Belgique — Cohabitation légale (in French)