A notary in the Brazilian state of Sao
Paulo has recognised a three person civil union
between a man and two women.

It is uncertain whether the move will withstand a legal
challenge.

The notary in question, Claudia do Nascimento Domingues has said the three
individuals should be entitled to family rights, the BBC reports.

She claims there is nothing in law to prevent such an arrangement.

The three individuals have been living together for three years during which
time they have been sharing bills and expenses.

Ms Domingues said idea of a “family” was changing.

She commented: “We are only recognising what has always existed. We are
not inventing anything.

“For better or worse, it doesn’t matter, but what we considered a
family before isn’t necessarily what we would consider a family today.”

Jurist Nathaniel Santos Batista Junior, said the idea was to protect the
rights of the three individuals in case of separation or death of a partner,
Globo TV in Brazil
reports.

However, lawyer Regina Beatriz Tavares da Silva told the BBC it was
“absurd and totally illegal”, and “something completely
unacceptable which goes against Brazilian values and morals”.

Ms da Silva, who is president of the Commission for the Rights of the Family
within the Institute of Lawyers,
told the BBC the union will not be allowed to remain in place.