Effects of the legislation on registered partnership, which came into force on January 1st 1998/ and characteristics, motivation, and experiences of people who concluded a registered partnership in 1998. Role of practical reasons: inheritance, pension, ownership of house, financial security, children, fiscal reasons / role of sentimental reasons: recognition of relationship / awareness of legal consequences / whether respondents were informed about the consequences / duration of relationship / presence of children / registered partnership versus marriage / relationships history / pressure points and problems during the registration of a partnership / problems with legal consequences Background variables: basic characteristics/ residence/ income/capital assets/ education/ religion