Recognition of same-sex unions in Latvia

Notes

^ ^a ^b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
^ ^a ^b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations of the US. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights in Israel. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
^ Guardianship agreements confer some limited legal benefits in China, including decisions about medical and personal care.
^ Hong Kong provides inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
^ Indian courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
^ Most Japanese cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse provide residency rights in Namibia.
^ Romania provides hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.

^ Not yet in effect.

In December 2005, Latvia became the third member state of European Union (after Poland and Lithuania) to constitutionally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.^[1]

The constitutional amendement was signed by President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who at the time said that the amendment didn't change anything as marriage was already defined in civil law as being between a man and a woman, and Parliament could amend the Constitution whenever it wants. She said that the amendment did not give lawmakers free reign to discriminate against gay and lesbian citizens.