Civil unions in Iceland

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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 (2007) | Uruguay (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:

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Greece

Ireland

Italy

Liechtenstein

Mexico (Coahuila)

Mexico (Colima)

Poland

United States

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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Registered partnerships for gay and lesbian couples were introduced in Iceland in 1996.

The legislation grants the full range of protections, responsibilities and benefits as marriage. Joint custody of children is permitted, where one partner already has custody of the child. Only available to same-sex couples. A registered partner can adopt the other partner’s child, unless the child is adopted from a foreign country. All parties in Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, were in favour of the law; only one member of the conservative Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) voted against it.

On June 2, 2006 the Parliament voted for legislation granting the same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexuals in adoption, parenting and assisted insemination treatment. No member of the parliament voted against the proposal. The law came into effect on June 27, 2006.

A government committee is currently looking into allowing same-sex partners to get married.