Patchwork and rainbow families have long become a part of everyday life for many people in Germany. But, according to Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann of the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP), the law has lagged stubbornly behind "social reality." New plans to liberalize adoption and family law should change that after a draft reform bill was sent together with invitations for representatives of state justice administrations to attend government talks later this month.

Under the proposed reforms, it will be possible for both adults in an unmarried partnership to adopt a child together and for just one adult in a marriage to become the legal parent of an adopted child. In Germany, both married and unmarried heterosexual and same-sex couples are able to adopt. However, married couples must both legally adopt the child, whereas only one adult in an unmarried partnership may become the adoptive child's legal parent.

The Association of Foster and Adoptive Families in Germany (PFAD) said it welcomes the changes to adoption law, saying legal reforms "should be geared towards the reality of family life."

"The reality of families today shows that marriage does not promise permanence, as was previously assumed in adoption law," said Carmen Thiele, head of PFAD's Berlin office.

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Under German law, it is possible for adults from the age of 25 and over to adopt a child. For married couples, at least one spouse must be at least 25 years old; the younger spouse must be at least 21 years old. There is no maximum age limit for adoptive parents. However, the regulations stipulate that the age gap between the adoptive parent and child should correspond to a "natural........

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