Legal status of adoption by same-sex couples in Europe:
  Joint adoption legal
  Stepparent adoption legal
  No laws allowing adoption by same-sex couples

Adoption by LGBT people in Europe differs in legal recognition from country to country. Full joint adoption or step-child adoption or both is legal in 22 of the 56 European countries, and in all dependent territories.

Full joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in nineteen European countries, namely Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia (eff. 2024), Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. San Marino permits step-child adoption in which the registered partner can adopt the biological and, in some cases, the adopted child of his or her partner. In Italy stepchild adoption has been recognized by courts since 2016 after the Supreme Court of Cassation stated that a couple in a civil union can adopt their partner’s child. In Greece, same-sex couples in a civil partnership may become foster – but not adoptive – parents.[1]

In dependent territories, joint adoption by same-sex couples is legal in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the Isle of Man and Jersey. Several countries are currently considering permitting full joint or step-child adoption by same-sex couples.

Current situation

Joint adoption

JurisdictionEntry into forceNotes
[2]Andorra Andorra25 December 2014
[3]Austria Austria1 January 2016
[4]Belgium Belgium30 June 2006
[5]Croatia Croatia26 May 2022
  • First instance decision 5 May 2021, 26 May 2022 High Administrative Court rejects Ministry appeal.
[6]Denmark Denmark1 July 2010
[9] Estonia Estonia 1 January 2016
  • Only parties to a cohabitation agreement or marriage (beginning 1 Jan 2024) may adopt
[10]Finland Finland1 March 2017
[11]France France18 May 2013
  • Also applies to all French overseas territories
[12]Germany Germany1 October 2017
[13]Iceland Iceland27 June 2006
[14]Republic of Ireland Ireland6 May 2016
[15]Liechtenstein Liechtenstein1 July 2022
[16]Luxembourg Luxembourg1 January 2015
[17]Malta Malta17 April 2014
[18][19]Netherlands Netherlands1 April 2001
  • The law initially applied to the European Netherlands only.
  • In 2012 its scope was expanded to include the Caribbean Netherlands.
[20]Norway Norway1 January 2009
[21]Portugal Portugal1 March 2016
[22][23] Slovenia Slovenia8 July 2022
  • The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs stated that the existing law allowed for second-parent adoption beginning in July 2011.
  • In 2022, the Constitutional Court made separate rulings legalising same-sex marriage and joint couple adoption.
[24]Spain Spain3 July 2005
[25]Sweden Sweden1 February 2003
[26][27]Switzerland Switzerland1 July 2022
[28][29]United Kingdom United Kingdom7 November 2002
  • The law initially applied to England and Wales only.
  • In Scotland a separate law came into force on 28 September 2009.[30]
  • In Northern Ireland since 11 December 2013[31]
  • In Isle of Man since 2 April 2011[32]
  • In Jersey since 2 April 2012[33]
  • In Gibraltar since 28 March 2014[34]
  • In Guernsey since 3 April 2017[35]

Non-European Territories:

  • In both Bermuda and the Pitcairn Islands since 2015.[36][37][38]
  • In the Falkland Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and Tristan da Cunha since 2017.[39]
  • The Cayman Islands since 2020.
  • Not available in other overseas territories

Step-child adoption

JurisdictionEntry into forceNotes
San Marino San Marino 11 February 2019
  • Parties in a civil union may adopt stepchildren only

In Italy step-child adoption is not legal and can only be recognized by court order since 2016.[40]

Other

JurisdictionEntry into forceNotes
[41]Greece Greece10 May 2018
  • "Foster carer/parent". Only couples in a civil partnership are allowed to foster.

Public opinion

According to pollster Gallup Europe, women, younger generations, and the highly educated are more likely to support same-sex marriage and adoption rights for gay people than other demographics.[42]

  Indicates the country/territory has legalized same-sex adoption nationwide
  Indicates that same-sex adoption is legal in certain parts of the country
  Indicates that the country has step-child adoption or partner-guardianship
Opinion polls for same-sex adoption in Europe
Country Pollster Year For Against Don't Know/Neutral/No answer/Other
 Austria IMAS 2015 46%[43] 48%[43] 6%
 Belgium Ipsos 2021 72%[44] 21% 7%
 Bulgaria Eurobarometer 2006 12%[45] 68%[45] 20%[45]
 Cyprus Eurobarometer 2006 10%[45] 86%[45] 4%[45]
Czech Republic Czech Republic CVVM 2019 47%[46] 47% 6%
 Denmark Pew Research Center 2017 75%[47] - -
 Estonia HumanrightsEE 2023 47%[48] 44%[48] 9%[48]
 Finland Taloustutkimus 2013 51%[49] 42%[49] 7%[49]
 France Ipsos 2021 62%[44] 29% 10%
 Germany Ipsos 2021 69%[44] 24% 6%
 Greece KAPA Research 2020 40%[50] 57%[50] 3%[50]
 Hungary Ipsos 2021 59% [44] 36% 5%
 Ireland Red C Poll 2011 60%[51] - -
 Italy Eurispes 2023 50.4% [52] 49.6% 0%
 Latvia SKDS 2023 27%[53] 23%[53] 46%[53]
 Lithuania Eurobarometer 2006 12%[45] 82%[45] 6%[45]
 Luxembourg Politmonitor 2013 55%[54] 44%[54] 1%[54]
 Malta Misco 2014 20%[55] 80%[55] -
 Netherlands Ipsos 2021 83%[44] 12% 5%
 Norway YouGov 2012 54%[56] 34%[56] 12%[56]
 Poland Ipsos 2021 33%[44] 58% 10%
 Portugal Pew Research Center 2017 59%[57] 28%[57] 13%[57]
 Romania Eurobarometer 2006 8%[45] 82%[45] 10%[45]
 Russia Ipsos 2021 23%[44] 67% 10%
 Serbia Civil Rights Defenders 2020 22.5%[58] - -
 Slovakia Eurobarometer 2006 12%[45] 84%[45] 4%[45]
 Slovenia Delo Stik 2015 38%[59] 55%[59] 7%[59]
 Spain Ipsos 2021 77%[44] 17% 6%
 Sweden Ipsos 2021 79%[44] 17% 4%
  Switzerland Pink Cross 2020 67%[60] 30%[60] 3%[60]
 Ukraine Gay Alliance of Ukraine 2013 7%[61] 68%[61] 12%
13% would allow some exceptions[61]
 United Kingdom Ipsos 2021 72%[44] 19% 9%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Parliament ratifies bill that includes provision for same sex couple to become foster parents". Naftemporiki.gr. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Llei 34/2014, del 27 de novembre, qualificada de les unions civils i de modificació de la Llei qualificada del matrimoni, de 30 de juny de 1995". Bopa.ad. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Homosexuelle dürfen künftig adoptieren – ohne Gesetzesnovelle - Homosexualität und Homophobie - derStandard.at › Panorama". Der Standard. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "refLex - Chrono". Reflex.raadvst-consetat.be. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Sud donio povijesnu odluku: Istospolne partnere više se ne smije diskriminirati kod posvajanja djece [Court reaches historic decision, same-sex couples can no longer be discriminated regarding adoption]". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Lov om ændring af lov om registreret partnerskab, lov om en børnefamilieydelse og lov om børnetilskud og forskudsvis udbetaling af børnebidrag - Udvidet adgang for registrerede partnere til adoption og overførsel af forældremyndighed m.v." Retsinformation.dk. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "1. juli 2017: Nú kunnu samkynd giftast - Føroyski portalurin - portal.fo". 2 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ "Lovforslag". Folketinget (in Danish). Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Kooseluseadus" (in Estonian). Riigikogu. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Lag om ändring av äktenskapslagen 156/2015 - Ursprungliga författningar - FINLEX ®". Finlex.fi. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  11. ↑ "LOI n° 2013-404 du 17 mai 2013 ouvrant le mariage aux couples de personnes de même sexe". Legifrance.gouv.fr (in French). 17 May 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  12. ↑ "Gesetz zur Einführung des Rechts auf Eheschließung für Personen gleichen Geschlechts" (PDF) (in German). Bundesgesetzblatt. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "1445/132 lög í heild: réttarstaða samkynhneigðra | Þingtíðindi | Alþingi". Althingi.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Children and Family Relationships Act 2015". Irishstatuebook.ie. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Art. 25 gekippt: Etappensieg für gleichgeschlechtliche Paare - Liechtenstein - Liechtensteiner Volksblatt, die Tageszeitung für Liechtenstein". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Mémorial A n° 125 de 2014 - Legilux" (PDF). Legilux.public.lu. 17 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "ACT No. IX of 2014". Justiceservices.gov.mt. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "wetten.nl - Regeling - Wet openstelling huwelijk - BWBR0012099". Wetten.overheid.nl. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "wetten.nl - Regeling - Invoeringswet openbare lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba - BWBR0028063". Wetten.overheid.nl. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "Lov om endringer i ekteskapsloven, barnelova, adopsjonsloven, bioteknologiloven mv. (felles ekteskapslov for heterofile og homofile par) - Lovdata". Lovdata.no. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  21. ↑ "ASSEMBLEIA DA REPÚBLICA : Lei n.º 2/2016" (PDF). App.parlamento.pt. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  22. ↑ "Confronting Homophobia in Europe" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  23. ↑ "First Adoption by Gay Partner of Child's Parent". Sloveniatimes.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  24. ↑ "Documento BOE-A-2005-11364". BOE.es. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  25. ↑ "BBC NEWS : Europe : Sweden legalises gay adoption". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  26. ↑ «Ehe für alle» bringt volles Adoptionsrecht, Luzerner Zeitung, 3 June 2018
  27. ↑ (in German) Nationalratskommission will «Ehe für alle», Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 6 July 2018
  28. ↑ "Adoption and Children Act 2002". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  29. ↑ "Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  30. ↑ "The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 4, Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2009". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Gay adoption: Northern Ireland ban lifted". BBC News. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Civil Partnership Act 2011" (PDF). Legislation.gov.im.
  33. ↑ "Civil Partnership (Jersey) Law 2012". Jerseylaw.je. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  34. ↑ "Civil Partnership Act 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2014.
  35. ↑ "Population Management Law 2016". Guernseylegalresources.gg.
  36. ↑ Johnston-Barnes, Owain. "Adoption hope for same-sex couples - The Royal Gazette:Bermuda Court". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  37. ↑ "GayLawNet ®™ - Laws - Bermuda - BM". Gaylawnet.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  38. ↑ "GayLawNet®™ - Laws - Pitcairn - PN". Gaylawnet.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  39. ↑ "GayLawNet®™ - Laws - Falkland Islands - FK". Gaylawnet.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  40. ↑ "Cassazione, sì alla stepchild adoption in casi particolari". Repubblica.it (in Italian). 22 June 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  41. ↑ "Greece allows same-sex couples to foster children". The Washington Post. 9 May 2018. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  42. ↑ "Public opinion and same-sex unions (2003)". ILGA Europe. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2006.
  43. 1 2 "86 Prozent fordern mehr Spielregeln für Zuwanderer". Krone.at. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "LGBT+ Pride 2021 Global Survey" (PDF). Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "EUROBAROMETER 66 FIRST RESULTS" (PDF). TNS. European Commission. December 2006. p. 80. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  46. ↑ https://www.nakluky.cz/magazin/item/8490-pruzkum-2019-cim-dal-vice-lidi-si-uvedomuje-ze-maji-v-rodine-a-mezi-prateli-gaye-a-lesby/
  47. ↑ https://www.termometropolitico.it/1313433_sondaggi-politici-italiani-adozioni-gay.html
  48. 1 2 3 "Avaliku arvamuse uuring LGBT teemadel (2023)" (PDF).
  49. 1 2 3 "Extranet - Taloustutkimus Oy".
  50. 1 2 3 Friedrich Naumann Foundation (16 November 2020). "Liberalism in Greece, today (original: Ο φιλελευθερισμός στην Ελλάδα, σήμερα)" (PDF). KAPA Research. NewsIt. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  51. ↑ "Nearly three quarters of Irish people in favour of gay marriage". Thejournal.ie.
  52. ↑ https://eurispes.eu/ricerca-rapporto/rapporto-italia-2023/
  53. 1 2 3 "Teju trešdaļai Latvijas iedzīvotāju atbalstoša attieksme pret LGBTQ, liecina aptauja (2023)".
  54. 1 2 3 "Politmonitor: Breite Mehrheit für Homo-Ehe". Politmonitor. Luxemburger Wort. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  55. 1 2 Sansone, Kurt (12 January 2014). "Survey – 80 per cent against gay adoption". Times of Malta. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  56. 1 2 3 "Le mariage et l'adoption pour tous, un an après" (PDF). YouGov. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  57. 1 2 3 "Pew Research Center".
  58. ↑ "Attitudes towards LGBTI+ rights and issues in Serbia" (PDF). Civil Rights Defenders. 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  59. 1 2 3 "Večina podpira istospolne poroke, do posvojitev je zadržana".
  60. 1 2 3 "Neue Umfrage zeigt: Klare Zustimmung für tatsächliche Gleichstellung" [New survey shows: Clear agreement for real equality] (in German). 10 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  61. 1 2 3 ""Гей-альянс Украина" публикует результаты исследования общественного мнения о восприятии ЛГБТ в украинском социуме".
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