Why registered partnerships? A comparative overview

This chapter examines why and how registered partnerships were introduced in many jurisdictions. It finds that the two basic approaches were either to create a functional equivalent for same-sex couples only, or to create an alternative to marriage for mixed-sex couples which also was open to same-sex couples. The chapter then canvasses the impact that the advent of same-sex marriage had on those jurisdictions that previously had introduced registered partnerships, establishing that, apart from England and Wales and Scotland, the legislatures followed a logical path, based on the type of registered partnership that had been introduced. The chapter concludes with some observation on what comparative law can contribute to discussion on the introduction and reform of registered partnerships specifically and relationship recognition more generally.