Parenthood for Female Same-Sex Couples

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Becoming a mum for the first time is many things. Exciting. Moving. Nerve-wracking! And one thing it shouldn’t be is complicated.

At BTO we can guide you on your journey to legal parenthood of your new child, and talk to you about all of your options based on your specific circumstances.

There are a number of ways to become a mum in Scotland, and which option is best for you will depend entirely on what you believe is best for your new family.

Donor Conception

The most obvious ‘starting point’ for lesbian couples or single parents to have children biologically is through the use of a sperm donor.

However, there may be other assisted conception technologies required if the parent(s) run into fertility problems, which are not uncommon. This may require the use of donated eggs or potentially the use of a surrogate.

We would always advocate using a clinic for any form of assisted conception, as it brings with it more secure legal protections.

For more information about obtaining donor gametes click here, or surrogacy click here.

Adoption

On average there are around 4,000 children in the UK waiting at any one time to be adopted. It is a common way for lesbian couples and single parents to add to their family.

For full details about the adoption process, please click here.

Co-Parenting

Co-parenting is where two people agree to conceive a child and raise them together even though they are not in a relationship. It is quite common for lesbian women, either as individuals or in a couple, to choose to enter into co-parenting agreements with single male friends or gay couples.

Entering into co-parenting agreements is entirely lawful, although comes at a high legal risk as there can only be two legal parents of the child and it all depends on your relationship status.

If this option is the right choice for your family, it is important that you think carefully about the intentions post-conception and to make sure that everyone involved is on the same page. You should only ever enter into a co-parenting arrangement with someone you know and trust, and only once you are clear about the legal implications of doing so.

We can assist with preparing co-parenting agreements which set out how a child will be raised and each co-parent’s roles and responsibilities in relation to that child. They are not legally binding but are still valuable in helping you and your fellow co-parents to establish each other’s expectations from the arrangements. We offer this on a fixed-fee package.

If you would like to speak to one of our specialist family lawyers about your specific situation, please contact us.

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