Same-sex relationships in light of application of the 2007 Hague Protocol on the law applicable to maintenance obligations

Abstract

Same-sex marriages, registered partnerships and de facto unions are considered same-sex relationships in comparative law. In the Hague Protocol, an important source of the Serbian conflict of law system, nothing is indicated about its application to these relationships, nor is the notion of "family relationship" defined in sense of Article 1. This paper examines the scope of interpretation of this notion and whether it includes same-sex relationships. The main dilemma is whether the application of the Protocol may arise from autonomous interpretation of notion "family relationship" or from the decision of each contracting state. Taking a position regarding these issues, the author examines the possibility of application of the Protocol to determine applicable law in disputes regarding maintenance of same-sex relationships, concluded abroad, and processed before domestic authorities. Special attention is paid to the analysis of a hypothetical case and the extent of the public-policy clause from Article 13.

Keywords

• 2007 hague protocol
• maintenance
• applicable law
• family relationship
• same-sex relationship