The Riigikogu Legal Affairs Committee is organising an opinion seminar on Wednesday, August 27, at 11 a.m. on Aspects and Obstacles of Cohabitation Act, where experts will analyse the Act and discuss the role of the family in the society.

“The purpose of the seminar is to discuss the legal and social aspects of the Cohabitation Act and to offer the various stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the issue,” said the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Neeme Suur who will moderate the seminar. “Registered participants have an important role next to the presenters. I am expecting a productive and respectful exchange of opinions.”

The opinion seminar is divided into four segments: family and legal space, family and other social institutions, children and family models, and family and society. Nine experts will make presentations, followed by a discussion.

The presenters include the Chairman of the Chamber of Notaries Anne Saaber, who will describe the differences between the Cohabitation Act and the Family Law Act; Doctoral Candidate Eveliis Kurs from the University of Tartu will discuss adoption in the context of the Cohabitation Act; and Associate Professor Urmas Nõmmik from the University of Tartu will talk about the link between family models and the church.

The Cohabitation Bill (650 SE), initiated by 40 MPs, passed the first reading in June. Motions to amend must be presented by 12 September, after which it will return to the legal Affairs Committee for deliberation.

The Cohabitation Bill gives cohabiting but unmarried couples the right to register their civil relationship and thus regulate their legal relations. The scope of application of the Cohabitation Bill involves the procedure for entering into a cohabitation agreement, the rights and responsibilities of registered civil partners, and the bases for terminating the cohabitation agreement. The Bill gives the right to register a civil partnership to same sex couples as well.

The schedule and the presenters at the opinion seminar: https://www.riigikogu.ee/index.php?id=180281&parent_id=169296

The seminar will be broadcast live at: https://www.riigikogu.ee/index.php?id=173840