Italy considers bill to change family law

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ROME, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The Italian government is considering a bill that would give children born out of wedlock the same rights as those born within marriage.

Italy's civil code currently makes a distinction between "legitimate" children, born of married parents, and "natural" children, whose parents are not married, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

The proposed new law would remove the distinction and extend to all children the recognition of kinship with all family members and not just with the parents, which is currently only a right for "legitimate" children.

This would mean that should the parents die, a child born out of wedlock could be entrusted to the grandparents rather than put up for adoption, which often happens now. The bill also has important implications for inheritances.