In a groundbreaking development for family law in Quebec, a throuple—comprising three men in a polyamorous relationship—has been granted legal adoption of a three-year-old girl from the province's child protection services. This marks the first instance in Quebec where an all-male polyamorous trio has been recognised as legal parents of a child, Visegrad24 reported.
The adoption was finalised following a comprehensive home study and court approval process. Two of the men have been officially listed as the child's legal parents, while the third is actively pursuing full legal recognition under Quebec's updated family laws, which now accommodate multi-parent families. This legal shift follows a 2025 ruling by the Quebec Superior Court that recognised the right of children to have more than two legal parents, compelling the provincial government to amend the Civil Code accordingly.
This legal development comes against the backdrop of changes to Quebec’s civil code. In April 2025, Quebec’s Superior Court had ruled that restricting parental status to one or two people was unconstitutional, setting in motion amendments to allow for greater recognition of multi-parent families.
Quebec's Superior Court had ruled that children born into multi-parent families—including those raised by throuples—must be afforded the same legal recognition as those from two-parent households.
The case was initiated by three distinct multi-parent families, each with unique structures:
A throuple—a romantic relationship involving three adults (a man and two women)—raising four children together.
A lesbian couple and a male friend who agreed before conception to co-parent.
A woman with infertility who agreed that her husband would have a child with a close friend, who in turn wanted to retain maternal rights.
In all instances, the adults involved planned the child’s conception together, a key point underscored by the court. This ruling does not extend to step-parents or guardians who enter a child's life after birth.
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