Category: Modern family law

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05
Sep
2025

UK Surrogacy: The Issue of Consent Following a Surrogate’s Traumatic Brain Injury Giving Birth

The case of R & Anor v A & Anor [2024] EWFC 341 involved a domestic (UK) surrogacy arrangement where intended parents sought a parental order without their surrogate's consent. Specifically, the English Family Court was asked to dispense with the surrogate's consent due to a lack of capacity following a traumatic brain injury giving birth. It serves as a sad example about some of the medical risks and complex legal issues that can arise during and after a surrogate pregnancy and birth and demonstrates the importance of legal safeguarding for all parties (surrogate, child and intended parents).

13
Aug
2025

Blog, Modern family law, News, Parenting law

National Rainbow Baby Day 2025

This year National Rainbow Baby Day takes place on 22 August 2025. A ‘Rainbow Baby’ is a child born after a family loses a baby and this special child is often seen a symbol of new hope for a family that has experienced such traumatic loss. Established in 2018, National Rainbow Baby Day honours those babies lost to stillbirth, miscarriage, complications during pregnancy or following birth, all the while celebrating the Rainbow Babies who bring such joy to the lives of their family and parents. National Rainbow Baby Day is an opportunity for families to reflect on their children, those who are with them physically, and those who will forever be with them in spirit.

12
Aug
2025

Blog, Donor conception law, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern family law, Parenting law

The Risks of Unregulated Sperm Donation: Serial Sperm Donor Joe Donor

The recent case of Re CA and Ors (Children of Unregulated Sperm Donor) [2025] EWFC 130 brings into focus the threats posed by unregulated sperm donation, specifically at the hand of serial sperm donor known as ‘Joe Donor’. In this case, Mr Justice Poole determines whether ‘Joe Donor’ – officially named Robert Albon – has any rights to a Declaration of Parentage, a Parental Responsibility Order and a Child Arrangements Order for two of the possible 180 children he has fathered. The case also brings to light the vulnerabilities of the two children’s mothers and raises concerns about exploitation and abuse that can accompany informal sperm donation, and what this means for the best interests of the children involved.

06
Aug
2025

Blog, Donor conception law, fertility law, Louisa Ghevaert, Modern family law, Parenting law

F v J & Others [2024] and the Pitfalls of Mismatched Expectations, Rushed Known Sperm Donation and Co-Parenting Arrangements

F v J & Others [2024[ EWHC 2802 (Fam) is a case which deals with the realities and challenges of co-parenting and highlights the complexities of known sperm donation - how it should be approached with great care and proactive management of the legal aspects which underpin these family building arrangements. Specifically, it raises issues of legal parentage in the context of known sperm donation and assisted reproduction, and what can happen when this process is rushed or hurried. Additionally, this case raises concerns around communication in co-parenting relationships, and stresses the importance of the stability of those relationships, both for the benefit of the parents, and for the wellbeing of the child.

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