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Birth registration does not – by itself – confer Parental Responsibility
The Family Court’s decision in Re X (Female Partner: Non-Acquisition of Parental Responsibility) [2026] EWFC 252 (B) provides an important reminder that appearing on a child’s birth certificate does not necessarily make someone a legal parent or confer parental responsibility. AR and BM were in a same-sex relationship, but BM was already pregnant when their relationship began. The child, X,... more >
When can a father give up his own parental responsibility? The Family Court’s approach in A Father v A Mother [2025] EWFC 524
In A Father v A Mother and Others [2025] EWFC 524, the Family Court refused a father’s unusual application to have his own parental responsibility removed. The decision confirms that parental responsibility exists for the benefit of the child, not the parent, and that the court will not terminate it simply because family conflict has become intolerable for the adult... more >
Surrogacy payments and parental orders: welfare comes first
The High Court has recently clarified how the Family Court should approach payments made under surrogacy arrangements when deciding whether to make a parental order. In A and B v C and D [2026] EWHC 972 (Fam), Williams J held that “pure” public policy considerations have no legitimate role in the court’s decision whether to authorise payments exceeding reasonable expenses... more >
The law relating to children brought from abroad for the purposes of adoption
A recent High Court case, DD v AF [2026] EWHC 247 (Fam), has clearly set out how courts in England and Wales should deal with adoption applications where a child may have been brought to the UK unlawfully for the purposes of adoption. The case involved a 17-year-old girl from Nigeria. A British citizen claimed to have adopted the child... more >
‘Experts’ and alienating behaviours
A recently-published Family Court decision has sent a clear message about two important issues in children cases: 1. the appointment of psychologists in court proceedings, and 2. how courts should deal with allegations of “alienating behaviour”. In Re Y (Experts and alienating behaviour: the modern approach) [2026] EWFC 38, the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, said that... more >
Presumption of parenthood can be revoked, High Court confirmed
The legal status of ‘parent’ cannot be maintained when significant evidence to the contrary is available, the High Court recently confirmed. In Re X (A Child), a couple with a 15-year-old child began to experience difficulties in their marriage. The wife had a relationship with another man and became pregnant. At first the wife did not tell her husband that... more >