Who is the "Mother" in Surrogate Parenting?
I thought I would close off this week’s blogs with a recent decision that reviews the law on surrogate parents.
In M.D. v. L.L. a married couple wished to have a child. Unfortunately, the wife, M.D., was unable to bear children. So, the couple turned to a family friend, L.L., who was willing to act as a surrogate mother. M.D. and L.L. papered the terms of their understanding in a Gestational Carriage Agreement.
After L.L. gave birth to the child, a Statement of Live Birth had to be completed and filed with the Registrar, which statement required L.L. to place her name on the form as the “mother” of the child, notwithstanding the Agreement and the fact that M.D. and her husband were the genetic parents of the child.
M.D. and her husband sought orders declaring themselves to be the parents of the child, and declaring L.L. and her husband not to be the parents. The Court granted the orders sought, and in so doing held that despite a statutory definition defining “mother” by reference to birth, the genetic parents were the true parents.
This decision is likely going to be the authority relied upon in surrogate parenting litigation to come.
Have a great long weekend!
Natalia
