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Known donor disputes

Disputes about the donor or co-parent's role Disputes sometimes arise in known donation and co-parenting arrangements about the nature of the donor or co-parent's role.  This might involve questions about the frequency, purpose or nature of contact, or about whether a donor/co-parent should have parental responsibility.  Such disputes have historically involved known sperm donors/co-parent fathers seeking a greater role, but similar issues could also apply in respect of known egg dono...

Mediation in fertility law cases (The Review, April 2014)

Richard's article, published in The Review (journal for family lawyers) in April 2014, discusses the ways in which mediation can be used to resolve disputes involving modern families, including same-sex parents, surrogacy disputes and known donation disputes.

Known donation - the importance of legal advice and counselling (Journal of the British Infertility Counselling Association, 2013)

Nicola's article, published in the journal of the British Infertility Counsellors' Association, discusses the importance of careful planning in known donation arrangements, both through counselling and legal advice

Lesbian parents and sperm donors in dispute (Family Law, Nov 2013)

Natalie's article, published in Family Law (journal for family lawyers) in November 2013, reviews the hype around the case of Re G and Re Z and assesses its significance for lesbian parents and other parents through donor conception.

Sperm donors given rights of contact – surely not? (INUK magazine, Autumn 2013)

Natalie's article, written for fertility patients and published in the Infertility Network UK magazine in autumn 2013, explains the case of Re G and Re Z and whether parents conceiving with egg and sperm donors need to be worried.

Alternative family structures and relationship breakdown (The Review, Oct 2013)

Richard's article, published in The Review (journal for family lawyers) in October 2013, looks at how fertility law affects things for couples breaking up, including parenthood issues for parents through donation and surrogacy, same-sex parents and embryo disputes

YouTube link: BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour – known donation (November 2012)

Jenni Murray on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour discusses known sperm donation and what can go wrong with Natalie Gamble and Laura Witjens from the NGDT

Known donation on trial (Bionews, Feb 2012)

Natalie's article, published in Bionews in February 2012, discusses the risks of known donation arrangements and how the family court deals with them when things go wrong.

Known donation and co-parenting (Gay Star News, November 2014)

Richard's article, published in Gay Star News in November 2014, looks at known donation and co-parenting options and cases where things have gone wrong

Re G and Re Z (2013) - lesbian couple, both on birth certificate, known donor, contact application

This was the first case to involve a known donor to lesbian civil partners who were joint legal parents named on the birth certificate. Two sperm donors (who were not legal parents) obtained the court's leave to apply for contact, but were told that their expectation of a full parental role was 'wholly unrealistic'. The case was reported on the front page of the Daily Mail. We acted for the lesbian mothers in this case.

M v F and H (2013) - known donor dispute, child support, natural insemination

A married woman had met a sperm donor via an Internet matching site and conceived a child. She pursued her child's biological father for child support, and there was a dispute over whether conception took place by artificial insemination or 'natural insemination'. After a fact-finding hearing, the court found that conception had taken place through intercourse and held the donor liable for child support and substantial legal costs.

A v B and C (2012) - lesbian mothers, known donor, fathers may play a valuable role

The Court of Appeal upheld the position of a known father to a lesbian couple, rejecting the concept of principal and secondary parenting and saying there were no general principles apart from the child's welfare.

Re P and L (2011) - co-parenting, lesbian mothers, gay fathers, principal and secondary parenting

This case involved a protracted dispute between lesbian mothers and gay co-parent fathers, in dispute about the fathers' role. The court developed the concept of principal and secondary parenting to describe their roles, and said that the agreement between them should be given weight.

Re B (2007) - known sperm donor, uncle, lesbian parents, identity contact

A known donor to a lesbian couple who was the non-birth mother's brother applied for contact and was given identity contact four times per year.

Re D (2006) - known donor, lesbian parents, parental responsibility

This was the first UK case to deal with a dispute between lesbian parents and a known donor. The donor was given restricted parental responsibility, and the court said it should safeguard the nuclear family unit comprising the lesbian mothers.