The process for children conceived as a result of fertility treatment can be different. This depends on the situation:
Register a child
The woman who gives birth (includes surrogate mothers) will be shown as the child's mother in the birth registration.
In surrogacy cases the couple who arranged for the surrogate mother to carry a child for them may:
- Apply to the courts for a parental order. (This will allow the birth to be re-registered to show them as the parents.)
- Legal advice should be sort for more details about this.
When a court issues a parental order:
- A copy is sent to Corrections and Re-registration Section at the General Register Office in Southport.
- They will re-register the birth.
For more details, please contact us.
Register where the male/second female parent dies before a child is conceived
They can still be registered as the child's father/parent. You must show us some evidence, which could be:
- The mother's written declaration that she:
- Wishes the man's name to be recorded as the father;
- or the woman's name to be recorded as the second female parent, in the birth registration.
- The man's or woman's written consent to:
- The fertility treatment;
- and to being named as the father/second female parent in the birth registration.
- Written confirmation from the clinic that consent had not been withdrawn. (This only applies to men who died after 18th September 2003.)
- Written confirmation of the fertility treatment from a medical source. (For example, the treatment clinic, mother's own doctor or hospital doctor.)
- A certificate of the man's or woman's death. (The date and place of marriage/civil partnership is enough if it was in England or Wales.)
- If applicable, a certificate of marriage or civil partnership. (The date and place of marriage/civil partnership is enough if it was in England or Wales.)
This does not give the child any legal status or rights with concern inheritance or nationality, for example.
Please note: For more details about this, you should seek legal advice.