Same-sex partners who had entered into a registered partnership contract went to court because the Estonian state did not allow them to take a common surname.
The case represented an important social and legal issue concerning human rights, including the right to identity, to a name and to respect for private and family life. Although the Supreme Court had confirmed that fundamental family rights also extended to same-sex couples, the existing Names Act did not allow for a common surname in the case of a registered partnership. The case emphasised the need for legislative change to remove discriminatory barriers and ensure equal treatment for everyone in matters of family life.
The process ended in a compromise. The partners were given a common surname, marking an important step towards equal rights for same-sex partners in Estonia.
The clients were represented by attorney-at-law Liina Käis and attorney Tõnis Loorits.
Read the detailed information of the case in Estonian.
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