Natalie has written an article published in The Review about an important recent case on step-parent adoption from the President of the High Court Family Division
Adoption
Adoption order granted to non-biological surrogacy mum in UK legal first – new reported NGA case
The English High Court has made a non-biological mother through US surrogacy her son’s legal mother via adoption – rather than a parental order – in an important new UK court ruling.
Surrogacy for non-biological parents
Can I pursue surrogacy if I have no biological link with my child? Yes. Although some fertility clinics and surrogacy organisations say surrogacy without a biological link is not permitted in the UK, what they actually mean is that it is not possible for you to apply...
What is the difference between parental responsibility and legal parenthood?
Parental responsibility and legal parenthood are legal terms which relate to the rights and responsibilities which parents and other adults have in relation to children. Both are possible at once but also individually without the other. Below, we look at the nuances...
Celebrating Pride with a look back at UK legal milestones for LGBT+ families.
To celebrate Pride, we look back at some of the UK’s major legal milestones for LGBT+ families over the past 15 years. It’s amazing to think that only 15 years ago LGBT partnerships, parenthood and non-cisgender identity were all completely invisible in the eyes of UK...
Happy 10th birthday, NGA Law
NGA Law is ten years old today! To celebrate our birthday, Natalie and Helen reflect on the last ten years. Our and NGA Law’s journey over the last ten years has been a real whirlwind. We have had some big moments, as well the less obvious but no less significant...
Marking 15 years of the Hague Adoption Convention in the UK
On 1 June 2003, the Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (1993 Hague Convention) came into force in the UK. The purpose of the Convention is to regulate cross-border adoption. Signatory countries must have...
How do I apply for step-parent adoption in the UK?
Step-parent adoption is a way of consolidating an existing relationship with a child and putting it onto a secure legal footing. There are various situations in which a step-parent or partner adoption might be appropriate, including if you are raising your partner’s...
Single Dad through surrogacy granted adoption order in legal first
The UK High Court has awarded an adoption order to a single dad through surrogacy, in the first case of its kind in the UK. Describing the law as a ‘minefield’, Mrs Justice Theis said she was satisfied that an adoption order was in the best interests of the baby. The...
Adopting babies in the UK is getting more difficult
Today’s news about the diminishing numbers of babies being adopted in the UK does not at all surprise us. The BBC has today reported that only 60 children under one were adopted in the UK last year, of the 3,500 currently in the care system. This marks a significant...