Can anyone recommend a solicitor versed in the laws regarding being a donor?

11 comments

1. Try CoTS – Childlessness overcome through surrogacy.

   Aimed mostly at the parents but I think they have info re donors too.

2. Might just be me but that sounds like a really bad idea. I wouldn’t want to bet against a court overturning anything you initially set out legally further down the line . A court always has the right to decide what is in a child’s best interests. That means that any donor agreement you sign is not legally binding.

3. A family law solicitor should be able to help.

4. You may find this article useful “Donor Assisted Human Reproduction (Sperm Donation) – What You Need To Know”

   https://www.pkhl.ie/blog/donor-assisted-human-reproduction-sperm-donation-what-you-need-to-know

5. Pretty certain the law states that you would be legally responsible for the child. And UK law doesn’t allow contacts that contradicts the law.

   ie, if the court decides you are liable for financial support, you just can’t present a letter saying they don’t want it and expect to be exempted from liability.

6. You need to do donation through an approved clinic, which costs. Otherwise, it’s your kid and you need to pay to support it, which costs a lot more.

7. Uk law states they have the right to know who you are if you donate. Hence why we have such low donation rates.

8. Had a similar situation. A lesbian couple approached me to help them conceive through artifical insemination. They asked me because they were constantly being pressured for threesomes by shady guys who were holding their desperation over them. They also couldn’t afford to go to a clinic.
   I said that if I helped them; then I would like to go no-contact. Any donation for me would be just like a blood donation. After looking at the legal situation, though, I realised that I would be liable for the child. in the future, if they broke up, you might find that the idea of suddenly demanding child support from yourself would become appealing.
   I politely declined for that reason.

9. >They’d also want me to sign a contract which states they are the legal parents on the birth cert and I abdicate any legal rights to the child (which I fully accept) anyway.

   [Legally meaningless.](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/donation/donors/donating-your-sperm/sperm-donation-and-the-law-for-donors/)

   ***It is important to remember that you cannot opt out of being the legal father of the child, even if the mother agrees to that. Any agreement drawn up to that effect has no legal standing. We recommend that you seek independent legal advice before you donate.***

   The only way it can work is via an actual clinic.

   ​

   >I’d appreciate if you could recommend people or resources I could consult with, in order to look over the contract and sign as a witness.

   See above – a waste of everyone’s time.

   ​

   >I also want to ensure they don’t have any basis from which to come after me for child support if they split up, one of them becomes a single mother than becomes desperate and come after me.

   You would legally be the father so unavoidable and not something you can contract away.

10. If you don’t go through a clinic, it’s legally your child.

    There are a number of fresh sperm donors online; one was on TV a while ago. In theory, a mother could go through court to force them to pay child support. However, they appear to be operating just fine – presumably no-one has ever gone through that court process.

    So, as long as the prospective parents keep to what you’ve agreed, you will be ok. But if there is fallout, you would have no legal protection.

    It’s up to you what your risk appetite is.

11. Everyone! THANKS YOU SO MUCH! You were all of tremendous help! I have found the resources I need and have decided to go through a clinic.

    Hope they agree to that, but if they don’t, too bad!