( CNN ) -- The Brazilian National Council of Justice , which oversees the nation 's judiciary , passed a resolution Tuesday that denies notaries the right to refuse to perform same-sex marriages . In Brazil , notaries officiate marriages and civil unions . Recently , 12 Brazilian states began allowing same-sex couples to marry or convert their civil unions into marriages . However , since the Supreme Court does not carry legislative powers , it was up to each notary to officiate at their discretion , and many refused , citing the lack of law . Same sex marriage : Who will legalize next ? Joaquim Barbosa , president of the Council of Justice , said in the decision that notaries can not continue to refuse to `` perform a civil wedding or the conversion of a stable civil union into a marriage between persons of the same sex . '' Barbosa , who also presides over the Supreme Court , says the resolution merely follows the transformation of society . `` Our society goes through many changes , and the National Council of Justice can not be indifferent to them , '' he said . Civil unions between same-sex couples have been recognized in Brazil since 2011 , after the Supreme Court ruled that the same rights and rules that apply to `` stable unions '' of heterosexual couples would apply to same-sex couples , including the right to joint declaration of income tax , pension , inheritance and property sharing . People in same-sex unions are also allowed to extend health benefits to their partners , following the same rules applied to heterosexual couples . Brazilian lawmakers have debated same-sex marriage , but in most cases , the bills introduced have not progressed through Congress . Brazilian neighbors Uruguay and Argentina are the only other two countries in Latin America that have laws allowing same-sex couples to marry .
In Brazil , notaries officiate marriages and civil unions , including same-sex ones . Notaries had refused to perform such marriages and civil union conversions , citing lack of law . Council of Justice president says resolution reflects changes in society .