The Cohabitation Act, which fueled debate and dominated domestic political news for much of the late summer and early autumn, squeaked through in Parliament this morning. If signed by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Cohabitation Act would enter force in 2016 and allow cohabitating couples, irrespective of the gender of either partner, the right to register their relationship at a notary and enjoy the kinds of financial benefits conferred by marriage. The final version also provides for the possibility of adoption by unmarried cohabiting couples. The Family Act, which was not affected by the bill, continues to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. Kaia Iva, leader of the bill's most unanimous detractors, the IRL faction, criticized the bill's initiators for "being dishonest," and said the version in the third reading contained wording that provided for the possibility of adoption, something she said was not in the bill in the second reading. Source