World

From the US to the Netherlands: These Nations Have Legalised Same-Sex Marriage and What Do Their Inheritance Laws Have To Say

The Netherlands was the first nation in the world to formally recognize same-sex unions in the early 2000s. In history, this was a pivotal milestone that paved the way for other nations to adopt similar policies.

Taiwan, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Spain, Norway, Portugal, Mexico, New Zealand, Malta, Slovenia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany, Iceland, Finland, France, Denmark, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Argentina, Australia, Andorra, Uruguay, and the USA are other nations where same-sex marriage is permitted with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s study, “Marriage equality throughout the Globe” India will become the 35th nation in the world to formally recognize same-sex unions if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the petition.

The Netherlands

When the Dutch parliament approved a historic law permitting same-sex unions in December 2000, the nation as a whole became the first to do so. The law granted same-sex couples the ability to be married, get divorced, and have children.

Taiwan

2019 saw the first Asian country to legalize same-sex unions, Taiwan, making history in the process. This came after years of agitation and campaigning on the part of LGBTQ+ organizations and their allies, as well as a landmark decision by the Constitutional Court in 2017 that ruled the prohibition against same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

United States

Before 2015, before the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges judgment made same-sex marriage legally recognized on a national level, the United States did not have a nationally recognized same-sex marriage. Nevertheless, there are still certain legal and societal obstacles confronting same-sex couples in the US, particularly in areas without comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation or with laws that limit the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Belgium

The 2003 law permitted same-sex marriage and recognized as engaged those from other nations where same-sex wedding was legal, as reported by Pew Research Centre. In 2004, those rules were widened to permit marriages between any same-sex couple as long as one of the partners had resided in Belgium for a minimum of three months.

Southern Africa

In the African nation, married couples of the same sexes have the equivalent inheritance rights as tied-the-knot couples of the opposing sexes. When it pertains to inheritance, SA has legislation in place to safeguard the rights of same-sex spouses. Same-sex partners are now considered possible beneficiaries under an amendment to the Intestate Succession Act of 1987, which controls how assets are distributed when a person passes away without leaving a will.

Canada

The same rights and safeguards under Canadian family law apply to legally wed same-sex couples as they do to wed opposite-sex couples in terms of inheritance rights. This covers the right to request spouse assistance as well as the right to allocate wealth and property in the case of separating or getting divorced.

Subhashree Panda

Subhashree Panda: A proficient content writer, editor, and researcher. With 4 years of experience and an MBA in finance, she crafts compelling narratives on global events. Her passion for diverse journalism genres resonates widely, fostering broad audience connections.

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