In 2016, the Federal Parliament decided to allow the adoption of natural children by persons living in a registered partnership ("LGBT parenting") or de facto cohabitation (without being bound by a marriage or registered partnership);[4] the relevant Article 264c of the Civil Code entered into force on January 1, 2018.
As a result, the same requirements now apply as for adoption of a spouse's child (see below).
Joint adoption of non-birth children continues to be prohibited.
[5] The basic requirements listed below must be met in order to adopt a spouse's child.
Since 2018, exceptions to the prescribed age difference are possible for reasons of the child's best interests.
[6][7] There are many different conditions, here are three examples: The list of all criteria can be found in the Federal Adoption Ordinance.