The Riigikogu today adopted the Marriage Equality Act, which allows two persons of legal age to enter into marriage, regardless of their gender.
55 members of the Riigikogu voted for the adoption of the draft law initiated by the government to Amend the Family Law and Amend Other Associated Acts, and 34 members of the Riigikogu were against it.
The adopted law establishes marriage equality from January 1, 2024, and changes are also made to enable the implementation of the rights and obligations arising from the Cohabitation Act. In addition to marriage, individuals still have the option of entering into a cohabitation agreement, and a simplified procedure for transitioning from a cohabitation agreement to marriage is provided for.
The bill initiated by the government passed the first reading in the Riigikogu on May 22, and 728 amendments were submitted by the deadline. On June 15, the government decided to link the adoption of the draft with the question of confidence in the government.
