If you are a parent (or are thinking about becoming a parent) or care for a child, there are many legal issues which could affect you and your family, particularly if you experience relationship breakdown or your family has an alternative structure or was created through assisted conception.
You can legally become a parent or care for a child in the UK in a variety of different ways, including surrogacy, donor conception, natural conception, private adoption, intercountry adoption, adopting a child in state care or becoming a foster carer.
Please click the links below or at the side for more information about legal parenthood, other legal status and rights for children (including parental responsibility, contact, residence, specific issue and prohibited steps orders, fostering and adoption and co-parenting), what to do if a parenting and children dispute arises and issues surrounding financial provision for children.
How we can help
We provide bespoke, cutting edge legal advice, support and representation in court for parents and others in alternative family structures, families created through assisted conception, those with complex international links and multi-national identities and those experiencing relationship breakdown.
Whatever your circumstances, whether you are a parent, an intended parent, a step-parent, a social parent, a grandparent, a surrogate, a known donor, a co-parent or other carer of a child we can provide:
- Advice concerning arrangements for the care and upbringing of a child (pre-conception, at birth and during childhood)
- Preparation of a co-parenting agreement
- Preparation of a donor agreement
- Advice and assistance in crafting a parenting agreement following relationship breakdown
- Advice and legal representation in court concerning disputed legal status and arrangements for the care and upbringing of a child (following relationship breakdown with a parent, step-parent, co-parent, known donor, grandparent or other significant adult in your child’s life)
- Assistance and court representation to secure financial provision for a child
- Advice and legal representation for a parental order following surrogacy
- Advice and legal representation for an adoption order
- Specialist Wills
If you would like to discuss your personal situation in more detail or you require parenting law advice please contact us by email fertilityandparenting@porterdodson.co.uk or by telephone +44 (0)207 222 1244.
+44 (0)207 222 1244
