National law firm Stone King, which has an office in Bath office, has started a service to offer legal advice to people wanting to start a family through surrogacy.
The move comes as an increasing number of people are considering surrogacy or other forms of assisted conception. 
Although surrogacy is legal in the UK, the law surrounding it can be complicated even when prospective parents have entered into an agreement with a surrogate.
In those circumstances, the woman giving birth remains the child’s legal mother until a Parental Order is granted in court.
Senior associate in Stone King’s Bath-based family & mediation team, Rebecca Eels, pictured, said while surrogacy and assisted conception were becoming increasingly common, there were a number of legal issues prospective parents should be aware of.
“By taking legal advice ahead of conception we can help people negotiate any problems they may encounter, and so be able to enjoy the arrival of their baby.”
A common issue that may arise is around paying a surrogate’s expenses as the law is clear in that surrogates are not allowed to be paid.
“However, payment for expenses is allowed so it is important for people to understand what they are able to claim for,” Rebecca added.
“It’s also important for people to understand that if they use a surrogate overseas and bring the baby back to the UK, UK law will still apply. This means the surrogate would have to give her permission for the granting of a Parental Order to make the baby that of the intended parents.”
Stone King employs more than 250 people providing specialist legal advice to clients in the education, charity and social enterprise, business and private client fields across its offices in Bath, Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds and London.
