Families like ours in the Netherlands consist of more than two parents, common among gay couples and single mothers. However, despite the Netherlands' supportive history of LGBTQ+ rights, legal recognition for these diverse family structures remains absent. My partner and I created a comprehensive co-parenting agreement, which is not legally binding, as Dutch law only acknowledges two parents. This inequity has been acknowledged by lawmakers since 2016, with calls to revise the definition of parenthood and secure legal rights for all family configurations.
Before my daughter's conception, the three of us drew up a co-parenting agreement in the presence of a notary, affirming our shared desire for a three-way split in terms of responsibilities.
Most egregiously, the rights and responsibilities of the non-biological parent are unrecognised: only two names can be registered on a birth certificate.
Collection
[
|
...
]