Nearly 1,000 Partnerships Registered in Latvia, Including Same-Sex Unions

Latvia has seen a significant uptake in registered partnerships since the law came into effect, with 925 unions recorded by July 1. The data reveals a notable number of same-sex partnerships, totaling 314, alongside 611 opposite-sex unions.

While most partnerships are established voluntarily, 30 were registered based on court decisions. The registry also shows that 84 partnerships have concluded. These dissolutions occurred through the death of a partner (26 cases), marriage of one or both partners (42 cases), or by mutual consent before a notary (16 cases).

Partnerships can be established with any notary in Latvia, with fees applicable for the service. The law allows any two adult individuals, regardless of gender, to enter into a partnership if they declare close personal relationships, a shared household, and a mutual intention to care for and support each other. This legal framework provides couples with legal, economic, and social protections, including income tax relief on mutual gifts and loans, and the right for a partner to make medical decisions if the other is incapacitated. Furthermore, partners gain social guarantees, such as those provided upon the death of a spouse, and can exercise rights equivalent to family members in other EU countries when exercising freedom of movement.

It is crucial to note that the law explicitly states that a partnership is not equivalent to marriage. Unlike marriage, partnerships do not regulate property relations or inheritance rights. Individuals already married, close relatives in a direct line, siblings, half-siblings, or those already in a partnership or marriage are ineligible to form a partnership.