Berlin, Aug. 17: Gay couples in Germany who have formally registered their partnerships must have equal inheritance rights as married couples, the country’s top court said on Tuesday. Germany introduced “registered partnerships” for same-sex couples in 2001 but stopped short of granting them the full rights and privileges afforded to married couples.
The court set a deadline of December 31for the parliament to produce new legislation to rectify the “unconstitutional” disadvantage for gay partners in the years 2001 to 2008.