Fertility Lawyers
At HM & Co. Solicitors, we understand that growing your family through alternative routes can be both exciting and complex. With the UK’s largest team of family lawyers, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Our specialist fertility lawyers provide expert and impartial advice across a range of matters, including fertility treatment, surrogacy, donor conception, adoption, LGBTQ+ parenting, and co-parenting.
Expert Fertility Law Advice
Significant advancements in reproductive science and technology, along with evolving UK fertility laws, have opened up more opportunities than ever for building families. Whether you’re navigating fertility treatments, considering surrogacy, or planning co-parenting arrangements, understanding the legal considerations is essential.
Our team of fertility law experts at HM & Co. Solicitors offers personalised guidance tailored to your circumstances. We explain the legal aspects surrounding fertility in clear, understandable terms, so you can proceed with confidence.
Why Work with a Fertility Lawyer?
Having a child through less conventional methods can be emotionally challenging and legally complex. Engaging an experienced fertility lawyer can help you navigate these challenges by:
- Clarifying Legal Parenthood: Understanding who the legal parents are in various fertility scenarios.
- Ensuring Proper Consent: Addressing consent for the storage and use of eggs, sperm, or embryos.
- Managing Parental Responsibility: Determining who will have legal and parental rights for the child.
- Funding and Legal Documentation: Clarifying financial arrangements and ensuring all necessary legal formalities are in place.
Our goal is to remove uncertainties, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your growing family.
Fertility Law in the UK: Key Considerations
Assisted Reproduction
Whether you’re pursuing IVF, IUI, or donor conception, our lawyers can help you understand your rights and obligations as a parent, donor, or co-parent. We provide comprehensive support to ensure your arrangements comply with UK law.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy comes with unique legal considerations, including who the legal parents will be at birth and how parental responsibility is transferred. We guide you through the surrogacy process and ensure all necessary agreements and applications are completed.
LGBTQ+ Parenting
For LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, there are specific legal nuances surrounding fertility treatments, surrogacy, and co-parenting arrangements. Our team has extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ families to address these challenges with sensitivity and expertise.
Why Choose HM & Co. Solicitors?
At HM & Co. Solicitors, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive, supportive, and understanding environment for all our clients. Whether you’re an individual or a couple, from any background, we are here to guide you through every legal step of your fertility journey.
With expertise across donor conception, artificial insemination, surrogacy, co-parenting, and more, we ensure your legal interests are protected and your path to parenthood is as smooth as possible.
How We Can Help
Consent and Storage
We help you understand your rights regarding the storage and use of eggs, sperm, or embryos, including altering arrangements or withdrawing consent if necessary.
Parental Responsibility
Our team will ensure clarity on who will be recognised as the legal parents and how parental responsibility will be shared.
Surrogacy and Donor Agreements
We assist with drafting and reviewing surrogacy agreements, donor agreements, and any required legal applications.
Start Your Fertility Journey with Confidence
No matter where you are on your path to parenthood, HM & Co. Solicitors is here to support you. Contact our expert fertility law team today to schedule a consultation and take the next step towards growing your family with confidence.
Your Questions, Answered
FAQs
FAQs on Fertility and Parenting Law in the UK
Is surrogacy legal in the UK?
Yes, surrogacy is legal in the UK. However, surrogacy agreements are not legally enforceable.
When a child is born via a surrogate, the surrogate is the legal parent at birth. Legal parenthood can only be transferred to the intended parents through a parental order or adoption.
It is also important to note that paying a surrogate beyond reasonable expenses is not permitted in the UK.
What is assisted reproduction?
Assisted reproduction refers to treatments that enable someone to conceive without sexual intercourse. This can include a variety of medical procedures such as:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
- Donor Insemination
- Egg Donation
These treatments are often carried out in regulated fertility clinics overseen by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Beyond medical procedures, options such as surrogacy and co-parenting also fall under assisted reproduction, each with its own legal considerations. Our fertility lawyers can provide tailored legal advice to guide you through this process.
Who can access assisted reproduction in the UK?
Assisted reproduction is available to a wide range of individuals and couples, including:
- Opposite-sex couples
- Same-sex couples
- Individuals
- People entering a surrogacy arrangement
- Couples exploring platonic co-parenting
- Transgender individuals
Where can I find more information about assisted reproduction for same-sex couples?
Same-sex couples often need additional guidance around the legalities of parental responsibility. For example, unmarried same-sex couples may need to take extra steps to ensure both partners have legal rights.
You can find more information about fertility treatment for LGBTQ+ people on the HFEA website. Our legal experts are also on hand to help you navigate fertility law as a same-sex couple.
What are the legal rights of egg or sperm donors in the UK?
Egg and sperm donors have specific legal protections and responsibilities in the UK.
- If you give birth to a child using a donated egg, you will still be the legal mother.
- If you donate sperm through an HFEA-regulated clinic, you will not be named on the birth certificate and will not be the legal parent. This means you have no financial or legal obligations to the child.
How are fertility clinics regulated?
Fertility clinics in the UK are regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). They must:
- Apply for a licence to operate.
- Undergo inspections every two years (or more frequently if necessary).
- Obtain written consent before treatments, storage of genetic material, donation, or surrogacy.
These regulations ensure high standards and legal compliance across all treatments.
What are the complications around unmarried couples and fertility law?
Unmarried couples undergoing assisted reproduction need to ensure proper legal arrangements are in place. This includes:
- Completing the correct HFEA forms to establish legal parenthood.
- Seeking counselling and guidance before treatment.
- Being vigilant about paperwork to avoid disputes over parental responsibility.
If conception occurs outside of a clinic (e.g., at home), the legal father may automatically be recognised as the sperm donor, even if this was not intended. This can lead to complications, such as child maintenance claims.
It is advisable to seek legal advice or enter into a pre-conception agreement to avoid disputes.
What does platonic co-parenting mean?
Platonic co-parenting refers to two individuals sharing parenting responsibilities without being in a romantic relationship.
This modern approach to family-building is especially popular within the LGBTQ+ community but is gaining traction in wider society.
How does adoption work in the UK?
Adoption is a structured legal process where individuals or couples become the legal parents of a child, often giving them a loving and supportive home.
The process requires dedication, emotional readiness, and legal support. Our adoption law specialists guide you through the complexities, ensuring all documentation and formalities are handled with care.
Adoption is a rewarding journey, and the right legal support ensures both you and your child are protected throughout.
For further guidance on fertility, parenting, or adoption, contact HM & Co. Solicitors today to discuss your unique circumstances with one of our expert lawyers.
Services
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Fertility Lawyers
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Adoption Solicitors
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What is Assisted Reproduction?
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Surrogacy Solicitors
Book Appointment Surrogacy Solicitors: Helping You Grow Your Family with Confidence The journey to parenthood through surrogacy can be an emotional and complex process. At HM & Co. Solicitors, we…
Donor Conception Solicitors
Book Appointment Donor Conception Solicitors At HM & Co. Solicitors, we take pride in our team of specialist donor conception solicitors who are well-versed in navigating the complexities of fertility…
Testimonials
What Our Clients Are Saying
I have been using HM & Co. Solicitors since Feb 2020 for my Non-Molestation order and Child Arrangements proceedings. Since using them I have had two amazing solicitors on my case, Felicia and Ayesha.
This has been the first time I have ever been to court and had been quite nervous, especially due to the sensitivity of the proceedings. Felicia and Ayesha have been nothing but patient, professional and understanding.
I have felt very supportive and reassured throughout the proceedings and they have made sure that I understand what is going on throughout all the hearings.
If anyone is ever needing of legal help relating to Domestic Violence or Child Arrangements, I will always recommend HM & Co. Solicitor, Felicia and Ayesha.
Thank you again for all your help and support!
Love to say a massive thank you to HM & Co.Solicitors for a job well done on my two cases, really excited with the way my case was handle by Miss Daisy was amazing with good communication with client, very supportive, professional. I will recommend them to anyone experiencing legal/family issues and need legal advice/support. Miss O Adesina.
HM & Co. Solicitors are so helpful from receptionists right to the solicitors. I've had a few applications made to the court, which includes a non molestation order, recovering my son's passport from his dad and also arranging visits and Felicia is such a professional, organised solicitor who knows her staff so well. She is a blessing and willing to help. She thinks outside the box, and finds solutions in the blink of an eye! Besides her expertise in this field, she will not hesitate to speak up and stand firm when necessary. I am very grateful for her and the company who are so supportive and helpful. Highly recommend!
HM & Co. Solicitors provided an excellent service when supporting us to purchase a flat (where we are first time buyers).
Michael, our solicitor, explained the process clearly so it was not stressful, and acted efficiently to speed up the process. He also ensured we did not exchange immediately due to uncertainty over building works, which saved us a lot of money in the long-run. His judgement calls were excellent and ensured we came out with the best deal possible. I would not hesitate to work with HM &Co Solicitors again.
Shocked and surprised!
I entered the HM & Co Solicitors on Lower Road in what can only be described as a highly agitated state. I had been told a variety of information from another company and had been told I needed services from a solicitor. After explaining my situation to the gentleman I now know as Mr Hakeem Ayantayo (solicitor) he advised me that I did not need his services and to offer them to me for monetary gain would be against good public practise. He offered me friendly advice and even briefly spoke on the phone to the other company who were trying to make things difficult for me. Ultimately the situation I was in was resolved due to Mr Ayantayo and his due diligence. Mr Ayantayo could have taken advantage of my ignorance and lack of lawful knowledge but instead showed me kindness and support all while not fleecing me! Which in this day and age is a rarity! My sincere thanks to Mr Ayantayo and his lovely secretary you have restored my faith in not only the local business community but people in general.
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