Slovakia does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions. However, there is some limited legal recognition for unregistered cohabiting same-sex couples, notably with regard to inheritance rights. In June , the European Court of Justice ruled that under certain circumstances same-sex spouses of European Union EU citizens should be granted a right of residency in Slovakia.
A family member or a person in a relationship shall be considered under law as a "close person" "if an injury suffered by one of them is reasonably felt by the other person as an injury suffered by him or her.
In , Minister of Justice Viliam Karas introduced a cohabitation bill to the National Council , which was approved at first reading in a 72β21 vote in May. Previously, bills to recognise same-sex civil partnerships had been defeated in and Russia to provide legal recognition to same-sex unions.
In January , the Grand Chamber ruled in Fedotova that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights , which guarantees a right to private and family life, places a positive obligation on all member states of the Council of Europe to recognize same-sex partnerships.
In March , the Freedom and Solidarity SaS party announced that it would submit a draft law on registered partnerships. It would have granted same-sex couples similar rights and obligations as married couples, including alimony , inheritance, access to medical documentation and the right to a widow's and widower's pension , but excluding adoption rights. Under the proposed bill, partnerships would have been open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples and would have granted couples several rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples, namely in the areas of inheritance and healthcare.
