Same Sex Families in Europe

"Legal jungle: same-sex families trapped between EU countries" (from ILGA - Europe) highlights the key problems and discrimination same sex families and their children experience due to the lack of mutual recognition of civil status of their families.

A number of countries in Europe have introduced legislative measures to address some of the issues highlighted above by allowing both members of a same-sex couple to become legal parents of the same child.

European laws on adoption by same-sex couples

 
CountryLGBT individual may petition to adoptSame-sex couple may jointly petition to adoptSame-sex partner may petition to adopt partner's childSame-sex couples allowed to foster or stepchild foster
BelgiumYesYesYesYes
DenmarkYesYesYesYes
EstoniaYesNoNoYes
FinlandYesNoYesYes
FranceYesNoYesYes
GermanyYesNoYesYes
IcelandYesYesYesYes
IrelandYesNoNoYes
ItalyNoNoNoNo (but singles can foster)
LatviaYesNoNoNo
LithuaniaNo (only in exceptional circumstances)NoNoNo
NetherlandsYesYesYesYes
NorwayYesYesYesYes
PolandYesNoNoNo
PortugalYesNoNoNo (but singles can foster)
SpainYesYesYesYes
SwedenYesYesYesYes
United KingdomYesYesYesYes