Rainbow families can be created in lots of different ways, including with a sperm or egg donor known to the parents or sourced through a fertility clinic, through traditional or gestational surrogacy or through previous heterosexual relationships.
If you are considering starting a family, understanding who the parent of a donor-conceived child is complicated and depends on several factors. It is essential for all parties to have a clear understanding of the donor’s role prior to conception, which can be documented in a Better Pride Donor Agreement. While not legally binding, such agreements can serve as evidence of the parties’ intentions to help prevent future disputes and avoid expensive legal/court costs.
Understanding the complexities of parentage in donor-conceived families is crucial. Legal parentage can depend on factors such as the relationship status of the birth parent, the method of conception, and the intentions of all parties involved. For instance, in Victoria, lesbian couples who conceive a child with a donor are presumed to be the legal parents if they were in a domestic partnership or de facto relationship at the time of conception and the non-birth parent consented to the assisted conception procedure.
If you are considering starting a family, start with Better Pride.
