PollenTree

Gay Couples Co-parenting with a Single Woman

Sperm donation to a single woman by artificial insemination or natural insemination will mean that the man donating the sperm will be regarded as the legal father and the woman as the mother.

If the donation is by self-insemination the donor is automatically regarded as the father.

If donation takes place through a licensed clinic the single woman will have to agree to the donor being named as the legal father.

In both cases the father will only have parental responsibility if he is registered on the birth certificate.

The partner of the donor will not be legally recognised as the second parent.

One way to give legal rights to the donor’s partner is to appoint him as a guardian.

If it is intended that the child should live with the gay couple then the partner can apply for a ‘residence order’ and this will automatically give him parental responsibility for the child.