South Australia takes a distinctly narrow approach to surrogacy agreements. The issue is not simply whether a proposed arrangement is altruistic, or whether everyone involved has acted with the best of intentions. Under the Surrogacy Act 2019 (SA), the first question is whether the arrangement falls into the category of a lawful surrogacy agreement. That… Read More »South Australia surrogacy agreements: are they unlawful?

Western Australians who have had a child through surrogacy, whether in Western Australia, elsewhere in Australia or overseas, may soon have an important opportunity to obtain legal recognition as parents. The Western Australian Government is seeking registrations from past surrogacy parents who do not have a parentage order. This is particularly significant for families who… Read More »WA surrogacy parents: register now for parentage orders

When parents separate, one of the most important questions is how arrangements for children will be recorded. Will the agreement be kept flexible through a parenting plan, or formalised in legally binding consent orders? There is no single answer that suits every family. The right option depends on the level of trust between parents, the… Read More »Parenting plans vs consent orders explained