Parental responsibility
Opposite sex couples
Opposite sex couples
Opposite sex couples
For children born to a married (or in a Civil Partnership) opposite-sex couple, where either parent is not genetically related to the child and so long as the husband/male civil partner of the relationship has consented, they will be treated as children of both parents. This is applicable for children born from December 2019.
Same sex couples
Opposite sex couples
Opposite sex couples
For children born to same-sex female married (or in a civil partnership) both partners will
be treated as parents where the relevant consent is given.
For a male couple, the position is the same, although there's an extra step to apply for the transfer of parental responsibility from the surrogate to the intended parents as the birth mother will have automatic parental responsibility until then.
Surrogates
Opposite sex couples
Solo parents
For children born to a surrogate, the surrogate and her married partner (where applicable) will
be deemed the parent, regardless of whether her egg or his sperm are used in the treatment.
Following birth, the intended parent(s) need to apply for a parental order/adoption order, even where one or both provided the egg and/or sperm. The appli
For children born to a surrogate, the surrogate and her married partner (where applicable) will
be deemed the parent, regardless of whether her egg or his sperm are used in the treatment.
Following birth, the intended parent(s) need to apply for a parental order/adoption order, even where one or both provided the egg and/or sperm. The application transfers parental responsibility from the surrogate to the intended parents.
Solo parents
Opposite sex couples
Solo parents
For solo parents, no co-parent will be registered on the birth certificate, as the law does not
recognise sperm donors as a parent. Where an egg donor is used, the birth mother is treated as the mother of the child.
For solo male parents, the position is the same regarding no co-parent being registered on the birth certificate, once the app
For solo parents, no co-parent will be registered on the birth certificate, as the law does not
recognise sperm donors as a parent. Where an egg donor is used, the birth mother is treated as the mother of the child.
For solo male parents, the position is the same regarding no co-parent being registered on the birth certificate, once the application to transfer parental responsibility from the surrogate has been granted by the Court.