COTS - Surrogacy in the UK - Parental Order Form

ENGLAND AND WALES
	After 6 weeks the intended parents can apply for a Parental Order. The surrogate, her partner (if applicable) must agree to the making of the order. Once granted all Parental Rights pass to the ‘parent’s’ the surrogate then has no parental rights over the child.
	The applicants MUST be: married domiciled in Great Britain. over 18 years of age
	The application must be made after the child is six weeks and before he or she is six months old.
	The applicants must provide one or both gametes, (one of the parents must be the biological parent of the child, some courts are now insisting on DNA testing). A Parental Order permanently transfers parental responsibility to the applicants. Parental Order Reporters are appointed in the case of Parental Order applications, they do not have to be paid by the applicants. It is necessary to show that only reasonable expenses have been paid.
	The forms required are Parental Order C51(M) and Acknowledgement C52(M)
	Once the Order has been granted the intended couple receive a new birth certificate with their names on and the old birth certificate is filed away.
SCOTLAND
	The laws are slightly different in Scotland for a Parental Order. They come under the 'Child and Maintenance Rule 1997'. Forms 22 to 25. Once completed they should be handed in to the Sheriff Court in the intended parents locality.
	Again all the rules will apply as for England and Wales.
	Once granted the intended parents will receive birth certificate with the wording 'Extract of the Parental Order' in the top left hand corner. The other birth certificate is filed away.
NORTHERN IRELAND
	We believe the laws in Northern Ireland are the same as for England and Wales where the forms are Parental Order C51(M) and Acknowledgement C52(M).