Civil union

A civil union is one of several terms for a civil status similar to marriage, typically created for the purposes of allowing same-sex couples access to the benefits enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples (see also same-sex marriage); it can also be used by opposite-sex couples who do not prefer to enter into the legal institution of marriage but who would rather be in a union more similar to a common-law marriage.

Denmark

Civil unions were introduced in Denmark by law on June 7, 1989, the world's first such law. It has the form of a registered partnership (Danish: "registreret partnerskab"), but has almost all the same qualities as marriage. It provides all the same legal and fiscal rights and obligations that come with a heterosexual marriage, with four exceptions:

Related Topics:
Denmark - June 7 - 1989

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• registered partners cannot adopt, with the exception that one party can adopt the biological children of the other
• registered partners cannot have joint custody of a child, except by adoption
• laws making explicit reference to the sexes of a married couple don't apply to registered partnerships
• regulations by international treaties do not apply unless all signatories agree.

Registered partnership is by civil ceremony only. The Danish state church has yet to decide how to handle the issue, but the general attitude of the church seems positive but hesitant. Some priests perform blessings of gay couples, and this is accepted by the church, which states that the church blesses people, not institutions.

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Divorce for registered partners follow the same rules as ordinary divorces.

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Only citizens of Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Iceland can enter into a registered partnership in Denmark. This list is adjusted whenever a new country legalizes same-sex unions. This rule excludes foreigners from gaining a registered partnership status that would not be legally recognised in their home country or state.

Related Topics:
Denmark - Netherlands - Sweden - Norway - Iceland

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As of January 1, 2002, there were more than 2,000 registered partnerships in Denmark, of which 220 had children.

Related Topics:
January 1 - 2002 - Denmark

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Official links:

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• The Registered Partnership Act
• The Formation and Dissolution of Marriage Act (common marriage act)
• Statement of the Danish Church on Registered partnership