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Children and young persons – Parental orders. The applicants sought parental orders in respect of children that had been conceived through a surrogacy arrangement in India in circumstances where the applications had been made outside the six month time limit and where there was a possibility that the surrogate had been married at the relevant time. The surrogate could not be found, although she had previously provided an affidavit consenting to the applicants becoming parents. The Family Court determined that, despite the delay, there were benefits in allowing the applications to proceed. Further, the surrogate's husband had not consented to the arrangement and the surrogate's consent was not required on the ground that she could not be found. All other criteria of s 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 having been met, the parental orders would be made.
Children and young persons – Parental orders. The applicants sought parental orders in respect of children that had been conceived through a surrogacy arrangement in India in circumstances where the applications had been made outside the six month time limit and where there was a possibility that the surrogate had been married at the relevant time. The surrogate could not be found, although she had previously provided an affidavit consenting to the applicants becoming parents. The Family Court determined that, despite the delay, there were benefits in allowing the applications to proceed. Further, the surrogate's husband had not consented to the arrangement and the surrogate's consent was not required on the ground that she could not be found. All other criteria of s 54 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 having been met, the parental orders would be made.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC