Donor conception and co-parenting law
Welcome to our donor conception and co-parenting law pages - free information and resources from the UK's leading fertility lawyers
Donor conception information and guidance
Planning a family and want to know more? See our information pages for lesbian couples, solo mothers and Mum-Dad couples
Have a family through donation and having problems? See our information pages about donor disputes
Thinking of being an egg or sperm donor? See our information pages for donors
Want to know more as a donor conceived person? See our information pages for donor conceived people
How we can help
We have helped hundreds of donor conceived families (and donors) over many years, won critical changes to the law for lesbian and single parents, influenced law and policy in Parliament and acted in some of the UK's leading court cases on donor conception. Find out more about our donor conception law services
Natalie Gamble Associates in the news
We are prominent campaigners for donor conceived and non traditional families, and the work we do often hits the headlines (see our News Coverage page for more)
Listen to Natalie talking to Jenni Murray about known donor disputes on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour
Sperm donors who known parents can apply for contact, court rules - The Guardian, 1 February 2013
Gay sperm donor told to pay maintenance for 'his' two children - The Guardian, October 2012
Times Lawyer of the Week - The Times, 15 January 2008 (on Natalie's representation of Andy Bathie, the sperm donor pursued by the CSA for maintenance)
John Humphrys interview with Natalie Gamble and Baroness Deech on the fight for parental recognition for lesbian parents - BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, 19 November 2007
Donor conception resources to help you
The law itself
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 put in place laws to protect married and unmarried parents conceiving with donor eggs or sperm. These rules still apply in respect of children conceived before 6 April 2009. From 6 April 2009, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 updated these rules, giving new rights to lesbian parents conceiving together as well as updated rules for married and unmarried couples. Both acts also contain detailed rules governing how information about donor conception at UK fertility clinics is stored and made accessible to donor-conceived people, their parents and donors.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (see sections 27-29) - parenthood for children conceived before 6 April 2009
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (see sections 33-53) - parenthood for children conceived on or after 6 April 2009
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (see section 24) - rights to information about donor conception
Leading court decisions on donor conception
The family courts implement the law on donor conception, and make decisions where there are disputes. When considering new issues, decisions are sometimes published to create the groundrules for subsequent cases. You can read the leading case law here
Court forms for donor conception
Here are the court forms that you might need to acquire legal recognition for a non-biological parent if he or she does not have that status at birth:
Step-parent parental responsibility agreement form
Other organisations and useful resources
Pregnant pause: a guide for lesbians - Stonewall publication, July 2009
Donor Conception Network - a UK charity committed to supporting donor conceived families
National Gamete Donation Trust - a UK charity dedicated to recruiting and supporting egg and sperm donors
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) - the UK's regulatory body for fertility treatment
Fertility Friends - a large online community of fertility patients and prospective parents
Infertility Network UK - a leading UK charity which provides support with all aspects of fertility treatment
Pride Angel - a UK limited company founded by professional scientists Erika and Karen dedicated to matching sperm donors, egg donors and co-parents worldwide
British Infertility Counselling Association - the UK's professional association of fertility treatment counsellors
