Fertility & Surrogacy
Whilst there has been a rapid advancement in medical science allowing families to be created through a wide range of procedures, it still remains fundamental that two questions can be answered; who is my parent? Is this my child? The law was been written in an attempt to provide certainty so that these questions can always be answered. However, the inflexibility that certainty requires means that the answer is not always as expected or intended.
Future parents, caught up in the excitement of having a child, sometimes overlook the legal mechanisms which need to be put in place, some of which need to be in place even before treatment has started. This means that the happiness of creating a family can sometimes be overshadowed by lengthy proceedings to fix past errors which are not always straight forward and some errors cannot be rectified.
Different procedures have different legal requirement. Sometimes it is as straight forward as ensuring a consent form is signed by the appropriate person at the appropriate time. Other times an application to court is required but it is important to take legal advice from an early stage to ensure that you know your options.
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There are many myths and misconceptions about international surrogacy which can make surrogacy abroad feel daunting. To help tackle this, we have set out some of the most common myths and our advice below:
Whether the law still remains fit for purpose 10 years on is something the Law Commission is currently considering as part of a wholescale review of surrogacy law. Whilst most surrogacy arrangements are successful, there remains the occasional case when it can go wrong.
Surrogacy is an increasingly common way to have a child. However, anybody in the UK who is planning to have a child through a surrogacy arrangement should bear in mind that whilst surrogacy is legal in the UK, it is under a very different culture and is enshrined in a philosophy that surrogacy should not be commercial.
Liz Bottrill, David Burrows and Victoria Goodhall were invited to attend the Parliament building at Portcullis House this morning by the Office of Andrew Percy MP for the inaugural meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Surrogacy.
Liz Bottrill and David Burrows were invited to join Manchester Fertility's first open day last Sunday.
Whilst it may be sound family planning advice to keep eggs, or indeed sperm, frozen to plan against future unforeseen events, those choosing to do so in the UK should be aware that it is not as simple as “putting them away now and not having to worry about them again”.
The question of who, in law, is or are the parent(s) of the child born is, as a moment's reflection will make obvious, a question of the most fundamental gravity and importance.
Our leading experts in fertility & surrogacy law help you to get it right, from the beginning. We have over 15 years of legal experience, ensuring clients have smooth journeys to parenthood and frequently guide clients through the most complex domestic and international surrogacy and fertility issues.
We understand that dealing with your family affairs requires more than just sound advice and technical excellence. We invest the time to get to know our clients’ circumstances, needs and preferences to deliver commercially informed and practical results for you.