On July 1, the law on a new legal form of relationship – the institution of partnership – officially came into force in Latvia. From now on, two adult citizens of either sex, who are in a close relationship, have a typical household, and are not relatives in the direct line, or spouses can legally enter into a partnership with any notary public.
A notarized partnership deed will allow couples to make decisions related to each other’s health and treatment and receive social guarantees and tax benefits.
The partnership will be terminated in case of one of the partner’s death, the marriage of one or both partners or their mutual desire to end this legal form of relationship through the courts.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, who made a coming-out in 2014, welcomed the law’s entry into force on partnerships.
The first same-sex union, Janis and Maksim, took advantage of the new law right after midnight, according to the Latvian human rights movement Dzīvesbiedri. The couple registered their partnership in the presence of Latvian Justice Minister Inese Libini-Egnera, who oversaw the development of the partnership regulations.
