Understand Your Situation
Navigating the legal requirements to ensure that 'intended parents' are recognised as the legal parents following surrogacy or donor treatment.
In the UK, the woman who gives birth is always the legal mother, even if she has no genetic link to the child. If she is married, her husband is usually the legal father. To transfer legal parenthood to the intended parents, a Parental Order must be obtained from the court after the birth. Without this, the intended parents do not have the legal right to make decisions about the child’s welfare or medical care.
Legislation & Rights
A confidential consultation provides a clear roadmap for the surrogacy process and identifies the legal steps needed to secure parenthood.
Plan Your Defence
The law regarding surrogacy is complex and currently under review. Commercial surrogacy is illegal in the UK, and payments to surrogates are restricted to 'reasonable expenses.' For international surrogacy, the process also involves immigration and nationality laws. Legal guidance is essential before the child is even born to ensure the intended parents can meet the strict criteria for a Parental Order and secure their legal status.
Defence & Evidence
Specialist legal advice ensures that all statutory criteria are met, protecting the long-term legal relationship between the parents and the child.
Legal Aid Availability
For many criminal matters, from police station interviews to Crown Court trials, public funding (Legal Aid) may be available to cover your legal costs.
Eligibility is determined by the seriousness of the case and, in some instances, a means assessment. Our team will conduct an immediate, confidential assessment of your eligibility to ensure that financial constraints do not stand in the way of a robust defence.
