Amendments to the Registry Act in the Czech Republic will allow couples to enter into a registered partnership at any registry office, the government has announced. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan confirmed the regulation during a recent cabinet meeting, revealing that previously partnerships could only be concluded at 14 selected registry offices. While the move means that the partnership process will become more accessible, it is also part of a wider programme of state administration digitisation, with the introduction of a centralised information system for registries. The e-registry is set to begin operations from January 2027.

The Registered Partnership Act has been in place in the Czech Republic since 2006, and offers a range of legal rights to couples in such relationships, including inheritance and access to medical information. However, registered partners do not have a right to a widower’s or widow’s pension or to common property. Additionally, registered partners are not allowed to adopt children, nor do their children have the right to an orphan’s pension.

The amendment also includes other changes, including the ability to determine paternity via a tripartite agreement. This is where the mother, her husband (who is not the child’s father), and the biological father of the child can provide consenting statements of paternity. Finally, the amendment permits household or diminutive names to be registered in the registry book.

The move towards greater digitisation of the state administration and legal processes is part of an ongoing trend worldwide. Electronic registries, such as the Czech Republic’s e-registry, aim to streamline bureaucratic processes, improve data accuracy, and reduce processing times. Centralising registries allows more convenient access to legal documents for citizens and offers a more efficient method of managing government records.

Overall, the amendment to the Registry Act offers couples greater flexibility and convenience in formalising their partnerships. The move towards a centralised information system represents an important step forward in modernising the state administration, and is likely to lead to greater efficiency and accuracy in record keeping.

Article by Prague Forum