Court orders Lithuania to register two women’s partnership

Lithuania must register the partnership of two women, after the Klaipėda Regional Court rejected an appeal by the Justice Ministry and upheld a lower court ruling, LRT reported.

The regional court said the women had lived together for more than a year and their relationship was a lasting family relationship. It upheld the Kaunas District Court’s finding that they are partners and that their partnership must be registered.

The women are married in another country, but the court said that does not remove their right to have their family relationship recognised in Lithuania through partnership. It also ruled that seeking recognition directly through the courts was justified and that requiring them to first apply to a civil registry office would conflict with the law and Constitutional Court rulings.

The court cited a 2025 Constitutional Court ruling that found unconstitutional the Civil Code provision limiting partnership to a man and a woman. The Constitutional Court has also said that, until partnership is regulated by law, people may seek recognition and registration through the courts.

The ruling takes effect immediately but may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania within three months. Lithuania has not passed a separate law regulating partnership, despite the Civil Code providing for the institution for unmarried couples.