Raleys Solicitors

Changes to the law which allow same sex couples to be named jointly as parents on the birth certificates of babies born through surrogacy or donor sperm have come into effect and the first same sex couple has jointly signed a birth certificate.

The changes to the law which were welcomed by gay rights groups have allowed Natalie Woods who gave birth to a daughter last month to jointly sign the register with her lesbian partner Elizabeth Knowles. Ms Knowles is now named on the birth certificate as a second parent in the place of a father.

Previously, same sex couples wishing to appear jointly on a birth certificate had to apply to the courts and Ms Woods said the new simplified process was a great improvement.

Now, when a woman in a civil partnership has a baby using donor sperm, her lesbian civil partner will be automatically included on the birth certificate, unless objecting in writing. Also, women who give birth using IVF but aren’t in a civil partnership will be able to name another woman as a second parent, providing the other woman gives written consent.