Court Decision: Recognition of Three Parents for a Child in Italy
May 12, 2026
The Bari court in Italy decided that a child can have three parents, affirming that the parental process followed by a couple of men in Germany is legal. The child's biological father and his partner legally obtained custody with the mother's consent. The decision came after legal difficulties during their move to Italy, where there were reactions and doubts about the suitability of the adoption. While the ruling faced backlash from Catholic organizations, it is significant as it is the first time that the legal existence of three parents has been recognized in Italy.