Our family and immigration teams work together to assist you with the legal applications involved in having a child through surrogacy or adoption, in the UK or abroad – from the arrangement itself through to a parental order and, where needed, the immigration and nationality steps to bring your child home.
Surrogacy. Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child for another person or couple. If you have a child with a surrogate you will not automatically be the child’s legal parents: it is necessary to apply to the court for a parental order under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, which transfers parental rights to you. We can advise prospective parents on what is involved before they start, guide you through the legal requirements for a parental order, and represent you in the application. You can read more on our surrogacy page.
International surrogacy. Where your child is born through a surrogacy arrangement abroad, we can also advise on the immigration and nationality issues: your child’s status, the documents needed to travel, and the applications required for your child to enter and remain in the UK.
International adoption. We can advise you on adopting a child from abroad, including whether a foreign adoption order is recognised in this jurisdiction, the steps needed where it is not, and the immigration routes for a child joining adoptive parents in the UK. You can read more on our adoption page.
Every family is different, and these cases often involve tight timescales and more than one legal system. We will set out the steps clearly at the start so you know what to expect.