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There are now more ways to build a family than ever before including:

  • Natural conception.
  • Assisted conception by private arrangement.
  • Fertility treatment at a fertility clinic.
  • Donation and co-parenting
  • Surrogacy.
  • Blended family (new partner, step-parent, additional children).
  • Adoption.

The creation of modern families using assisted conception takes many forms including: fertility treatment (e.g. IVF, IUI or ICSI), donor conception (known and arms-length), intra-family donation, surrogacy, co-parenting and posthumous conception.

The law is complex and it can create unintended legal outcomes. It can also leave patients, parents, children, families, donors and surrogates without legal status and protection.

We provide bespoke legal solutions that align with your needs and wishes. We operate at the forefront of law and policy in the UK and internationally and our preeminent legal expertise delivers innovative and cutting-edge results.

If you require legal assistance or wish to discuss your situation please get in touch

 enquiries@louisaghevaertassociates.co.uk

 +44 (0) 20 7965 8399

How we can help

Our legal services include

  • Legal packages
  • Bespoke legal advice for your situation, needs and wishes
  • Preparation of legal documentation
  • Legal support and representation in court proceedings

Package One

Family building consultation - options and law

This provides initial expert legal and practical advice to help maximise a positive and successful family building outcome. It assists those who are experiencing difficulties conceiving, solo prospective parents, same-sex couples and those with complex personal situations. It:

  • Provides bespoke advice on family creation options and accompanying fertility and family law issues.
  • Helps proactive and informed decision making from the outset.
  • Assists effective navigation of the family building process and legal framework.
  • Helps navigate complex personal and legal issues.
  • Identifies legal and practical risks and steps to mitigate these.
  • Answers questions to provide peace of mind.
  • Creates a tailored family building legal and practical action plan.

Note:

This initial consultation does not provide medical advice. It only provides specialist advice on fertility and family law in the UK (and not law in other jurisdictions). Terms and conditions apply. For further legal advice and assistance consider our other legal packages and bespoke legal services.

Package Three

Donor conception – family building legal review

This provides initial expert legal and practical advice to support people considering donor conception. It:

  • Provides bespoke legal advice on donor conception (including legal parentage, parental responsibility and legal and practical implications arising).

Package Five

Known donor – family building legal review

This provides initial expert legal and practical advice to support people undertaking known donation. It:

  • Helps navigate complex personal and legal issues.
  • Addresses benefits and contents of a bespoke known donor agreement.

Package Seven

Co-parenting legal starter kit

This legal package provides the following initial legal information and documentation on co-parenting to help prospective co-parents:

  • Co-parenting legal information sheet.
  • Co-parenting questionnaire.

Package Nine

Co-parenting agreement and legal review

This legal package includes a legal review meeting and the preparation of a bespoke co-parenting agreement. It:

  • Prepares a bespoke co-parenting agreement.
  • Helps navigate complex personal and legal issues.

Package Eleven

International surrogacy legal review

This provides initial expert legal advice to support people undertaking international surrogacy. It:

  • Generic legal advice on surrogacy law and policy internationally.
  • Generic legal advice on citizenship, nationality and immigration.

Package Thirteen

Adoption legal review

This helps those looking to adopt a child, to include: step-parent, non birth parent or family member. It:

  • Provides legal advice on adoption law in the UK.

Package Two

Fertility treatment - family building legal review (UK)

This provides initial expert legal and practical advice to support people considering fertility treatment at a clinic. It:

  • Helps patients understand and effectively deal with HFEA Consent Forms at a UK fertility clinic.

Package Four

Known donation legal starter kit

This legal package provides the following initial legal information and documentation on known donation to help prospective parents and known donors:

  • Known donation legal information sheet.
  • Known donation questionnaire.

Package Six

Known donor agreement and legal review

This legal package includes a legal review meeting and the preparation of a bespoke known donor agreement. It:

  • Prepares a bespoke known donor agreement.
  • Provides legal and practical advice on donor information and rights.

Package Eight

Co-parenting – family building legal review

This provides initial expert legal advice to support people building a family through co-parenting. It:

  • Addresses benefits and contents of a bespoke co-parenting agreement.
  • Identifies legal and practical risks and steps to mitigate these.

Package Ten

Surrogacy legal review (UK arrangement)

This provides expert legal advice for people undertaking UK surrogacy. It:

  • Provides legal advice on the court process for a parental order (and other family orders as required).

Package Twelve

Posthumous conception legal review

This provides initial expert legal advice for people considering posthumous conception (assisted conception involving the eggs, sperm or embryos of a deceased person). It:

  • Provides legal advice on posthumous conception law in the UK.

Package Fourteen

Blended family legal review

This helps those looking to conceive a child as a blended family, comprising existing children and a new partner. It:

  • Provides bespoke advice on conception options.

News and Commentary

“IVF Add-Ons: How Should We Score the HFEA’s New Ratings System?” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates blog, 8 February 2024).

“Declining Global Fertility Rates: A Growing Problem” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog, 13 January 2024).

“Male Infertility and Reproductive Health: A Growing Problem?” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog, 19 October 2023).

“Can Microplastics Affect My Fertility?” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog, 28 July 2023).

“One Year On Since Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization [2022]” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog, 9 May 2023).

“Global Decline In Sperm Counts: Do I Need To Be Concerned?” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog, 18 November 2022).

Egg, sperm and embryo freezing: what could go wrong?” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog 20 June 2022).

“Expert Witness Fertility Law: Claims for IVF, Donor Conception and Surrogacy” (Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog, 18 May 2022).

“The Economics of Older Mums” (BBC World Service radio interview featuring Louisa Ghevaert 12 October 2021).

“Women fired for having IVF: Appallingly many companies still do not understand the toll fertility treatment takes, despite one-in-seven couples using it” (The Daily Mail 4 August 2021).

Podcast “The Intricacies of Fertility Preservation” interview with Louisa Ghevaert and Eloise Edington of Fertility Help Hub (17 December 2020), also on podcast apps Apple, Spotify and Soundcloud.

Apple podcast on Speak From The Body with Avni Touch entitled “Fertility law for modern families with Louisa Ghevaert” (26 February 2020).

In the News

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