The issue of same-sex partnership came into the centre of public attention once again in the year The suggestion of Minister of Justice Rein Lang to regulate the relations of same-sex partners through a contract of partnership in Estonian: seltsingu leping — not to be confused with civil partnership received a mixed reaction. However, as a result the question of a partnership act was raised and the Minister promised to begin work on it in According to which, a marriage can take place only between a man and a woman, and marriages between persons of the same sex are invalid. The research focuses on non-marital cohabitation in general, analyses related problems and various possible solutions, including the option of making a contract of partnership, as suggested by the Minister of Justice. At the moment, it is more likely that a partnership act will in fact be drawn up.

Since the middle of the 19th century, the demographic, economic, and social developments in Estonia generally followed the tide of modernisation. Like other countries in northern and western Europe, Estonia adopted the institution of civil marriage, albeit in two steps. In registration offices were opened at city governments to provide an alternative for individuals who, for one reason or another, did not opt for ecclesiastical marriage. The reform was completed in when the new family law transferred the legal recognition of marriage from the church to the state.

Tallinn Circuit Court repealed a decision by Tallinn Administrative Court according to which the PPA was obligated to grant a temporary residence permit to a woman of U. The circuit court was of the position that when the two women married in the U. As it is not possible in Estonia for two people of the same sex to enter into a marriage, the marriage cannot be considered valid in Estonia.

Estonia has recognised same-sex registered partnerships since January 1, These unions provide same-sex couples with some of the rights, benefits and obligations of marriage. In December , the launch of a new family law bill by the Estonian Ministry of Justice , explicitly defining marriage to be a union of a man and a woman, initiated a public debate on the issue of recognition of same-sex unions.