In order to legally transfer parentage, the intended parent(s) must lodge an application for a Parental Order at court within six months of the date of the child’s birth.
The child must already be living with the applicants, and be genetically related to one of the applicants. The surrogate mother (and her husband or civil partner if he or she consented to the insemination/implanting) must consent to the parental order being granted within a prescribed window of time. The granting of parental orders is not automatic.