• FAQs for patients
  • Sex selection
  • Treatment
  • Transferring, importing and exporting from abroad
  • New parenthood law
• FAQs for donors
• FAQs for clinic staff
• FAQs about the HFEA

The law on legal parenthood following fertility treatment changed on 6th April 2009.

This is the first set of changes introduced by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 2008.

 

What will change?

The new law will affect who can be registered as a child’s legal father or second parent when the child has been conceived following fertility treatment. This new law will came into affect on 6 April 2009.

 

New consent forms

The HFEA has developed new consent forms so that patients can provide the right consents, whatever their circumstances. These forms will be used by clinics from 6th April.

For guidance see Chair's letter CH(09)01

 

Things to remember about the new parenthood law

• The new law cannot be applied to treatments that take place before 6th April.
• Make sure that you provide the appropriate consents before embryo transfer or insemination takes place.
• You may need to complete new consent forms to ensure that any child born has a legally recognised father or second parent.
• Even if you have already started treatment and provided consent, you may have to complete new consent forms if embryo transfer or insemination takes place on or after 6th April.

If you are not sure whether you have provided the appropriate consents, speak to your clinic.

 

How will the new law affect patients?

How the new rules will affect you and your partner will depend on your circumstances. Please select the group of FAQs that best suit your situation. If you have a question that is not covered by these FAQs, ask your clinic or contact the HFEA.

• General FAQs about the new parenthood law 

FAQS about what the new law means for:

• married couples using the husband’s sperm
• married couples using donor sperm or donor embryos 
• female civil partners using donor sperm
• couples who are not married or in a civil partnership
• male same-sex couples planning surrogacy arrangements
• single women using donor sperm
• FAQ on birth registration and parental orders
• FAQs about parenthood after death
• What clinics need to know

You can also sign up to HFEA e-updates and receive the latest news from the HFEA.

If you have any further questions, please speak to your clinic or contact us.

 

Other sources of information

• Stonewall website  
• Pinkparents website  
• Infertility Network UK website
• Donor Conception Network website  
• National Gamete Donation Trust (NGDT) website

General Registry Offices:

• England and Wales - General Register Office website 
• Scotland - General Register Office for Scotland website 
• Northern Ireland - General Register Office for Northern Ireland website

Page last updated: 28 August 2009

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