Recognition of same-sex unions in Bulgaria

Notes

^ ^a ^b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
^ ^a ^b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
^ Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
^ Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
^ Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
^ Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.
^ Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.

^ ^a ^b Not yet in effect.

Bulgaria does not recognize any type of same-sex unions. In 2008 and 2009 there were many debates on several national TV stations on the subject with the participation of politicians, religious leaders, gay activists and others individuals. The subjects of same-sex marriage, same-sex registered partnerships, adopting children by same sex couples were discussed frequently over the past one year. As of April 2009, there is a debate about introducing same-sex registered partnerships in Bulgaria. The government has suggested that the National Assembly of Bulgaria (Parliament) should vote in favor of the new Family Code. The new bill was supposed to introduce the registered partnerships.^[1]

However, these unions were not to benefit same-sex couples. However, on July 16, 2008, the commission for protection against discrimination in Bulgaria suggested that the right to registered unions should be extended to same-sex couples as well.^[2] Overall, on June 12, 2009, after two years of debating, the new Family code was passed without the section about registered partnership for both same - and opposite-sex couples.^{[citation needed]}

The Constitution of Bulgaria defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, effectively prohibiting legalization of same-sex marriage.^[3]

References

External links

v t e Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe
Sovereign states	Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
States with limited recognition	Abkhazia Kosovo Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria
Other entities	European Union

See also

References

External links