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Our team of specialist sperm and embryo donation law solicitors throughout the UK are here to help

At Stowe Family Law, we’re proud to have a knowledgeable team of specialist solicitors who have experience navigating the complexities of fertility law. 

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Advancements in science and technology have meant that there are more ways than ever for couples to grow their family, or for individuals to become single parents.

Whatever your path to parenthood, our specialist fertility lawyers are on hand to guide you through the legal elements of the process, ensuring a smooth journey.

Unfortunately, UK fertility law is complex when it comes to donor conception and fertility treatments. The law still lags behind the needs of modern families. However, our expert lawyers will support you every step of your unique path.

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Key Donor Conception Information

Who can use assisted reproduction?

Assisted reproduction is avaialble to couples who are struggling to conceive, whether this be medical issues, or same-sex couples. Single parents by choice can also use assistive reproductive technologies. There are NHS and other guidelines to be aware of.

Why use a Fertility Lawyer?

The law around fertility is often complicated, particularly when it comes to legal parenthood of the child. To ensure the smoothest and most pain-free process for you and your partner, a fertility lawyer can help highlight any potential issues and ensure all procedures are carried out with the correct legal paperwork.

See more answers to common questions

Our other fertility law services

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What is donor conception?

Donor conception is the term covering ways of having a baby by using donated sperm, eggs or embryos through self-insemination or fertility treatment, such as IVF. It can also include surrogacy when gametes are donated.

Donor conception is when a person donates their sperm, egg or an embryo, and recipient parent(s) receive the donation. They can then follow the steps to conception through treatments such as In vitro fertilisation (IVF), Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or Intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Donor conception is a form of assisted reproduction.

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Who would need to use donor conception?

Your GP or another medical professional may recommend donor conception to you for a variety of different reasons. These could include, but are not limited to:

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  • You are not producing your own eggs/sperm or your partner is not
  • You are in a same-sex relationship
  • You are single
  • Your own gametes are unlikely to result in conception
  • You have an inherited disease that may be passed on

Whatever your reason, our empathetic solicitors are here to help you navigate the legal complexities.

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Meet our fertility law solicitors
Liza
Gatrell
Managing Partner, Hampshire, Oxfordshire & Dorset
Elaine
Morrison
Team Leader Partner, London
Gemma
Davison
Team Leader Partner, Head of Oxford and Banbury
Henry
Crisp
Partner & Head of Client Proposition, Kingston
Meet our team
International Child Law - Stowe Family Law

What advice can a family lawyer give me?

Fertility law in the UK can be complex and everyone involved in the process has legal rights and responsibilities.

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The legal consequences of your chosen treatment will likely need discussing with a solicitor, and you may be recommended or required by your clinic to speak to a fertility lawyer before embarking on the journey.

Our team can advise on:

  • The legal implication of using donated eggs, donated sperm and donated embryos, including rights to information
  • The importance of consent
  • Legal parenthood

There are a number of legalities around informational rights. It is important to note that donors are not considered the legal parents of the donor-conceived child. Recipient parents are automatically considered the legal parents.

The key pieces of legislation are:

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

We’re proud to be a member of The Surrogacy Network, the leading directory and platform for surrogacy professionals.

The Surrogacy Network

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I know you are excited to get started on your family building plans, but if you are using a known donor you need early legal advice to ensure that you understand how legal parentage will be assigned at birth.

Liza Gatrell, Team Leader Partner

Why choose Stowe Family Law?

  • As the only national law firm fully dedicated to family matters, our expert team offers professional advice so you can make a fully informed decision about your divorce.

  • We are proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot. Check out our reviews to see what our previous clients have said about our service.

  • We feature in The Legal 500 rankings and are fully authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

  • We keep you informed. Take a look at our support section, which features a range of helpful guides, focusing on important topics including finances and mediation.

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Let's ask Anon

Liza instantly put me at ease and made me feel there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Let's ask Anon

Emily helped me so much with my family case. She always kept me up to date with what was going on and was very professional and empathetic to my situation. I would highly recommend Stowe family law from my experience

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Stowe Family Law has an excellent reputation across Yorkshire and is highly regarded by clients and peers alike.

Let's ask Legal 500

An excellent team that delivers an excellent service to clients. As a team they work cohesively together to diver a first-rate service to clients. Cases are meticulously well prepared and the quality of care provided to clients is high. They are amongst the market leaders.

Let's ask Legal 500

I could trust them, implicitly, with the most emotionally difficult situations. The solicitor I used (Sebastian Burrows) honestly gave the best advice, the most honest cautions and was always able to help with every worry.

Let's ask Ms S

Jemma is a very experienced, very intuitive and very empathic solicitor. She has worked tirelessly to ensure the very best outcome for me and my children since our first meeting. She is also acutely aware of the emotional impact of what she is dealing with and has shown great patience while being able to progress matters as quickly as possible. She… Read more is confident and focused and I completely trust her professional judgement and extensive knowledge of family law. She also understands the complex issues involved in domestic abuse and has listened extremely closely to my story and my wishes. She has ensured the law has fully protected my children and myself during these proceedings. She makes me feel she has a personal investment in my family’s best interests all while maintaining an incredibly professional relationship as solicitor and client. She has helped me make difficult decisions and kept me strong and focused on the end results and the purpose of our work throughout proceedings. I would recommend Jemma to anyone dealing with a difficult divorce and needing a “human touch”. I believe this is what makes Jemma stand out from her peers. Her fearless strength and determination to get the best outcome but not losing sight of the need for delicate handling of her clients emotions and trauma when striving for this.

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I would definitely recommend Stowe Family Law and specifically Holly Lamb. Holly has handled my case with empathy and professionalism throughout. She has provided timely and considered advice which has assisted in navigating a positive resolution to my case. I am very grateful for her input and the input of the Stowe team throughout. I have no hesi… Read moretation in highlighting Holly as being an excellent specialist in her field. Many thanks again.

Let's ask Legal 500

Lauren Roche is a very capable lawyer. She has an empathetic yet firm approach to clients.’
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Common questions about donor conception

Common questions about donor conception

  • What types of donation are there?

    The three types of donation are egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation.

    If you are intending on donating your gametes, you should do it through a registered clinic. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has a list of registered clinics.

    It is recommended that you speak to a fertility lawyer to understand your legal rights and responsibilities as a donor.

  • Can I donate if I am LGBTQ+?

    Yes, you can donate your eggs or sperm if you identify as LGBTQ+.

    In May 2024, the government passed a law which means that LGBTQ+ people who have non-transmissible HIV can donate their eggs and sperm.

    However, there are restrictions regarding eligibility criteria. These are not specific to LGBTQ+ couples but may apply to trans-men who have started to undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as the quality of eggs can be reduced.

  • Will my child legally have to have a relationship with the donor?

    Fertility law in the UK means that the donor has no legal rights to the child if you use a registered donor clinic. This means that they have no legal or financial obligation to the child. They will not be named on the birth certificate, and you (and your partner, if you have one) will be the child’s legal parents. They have no legal right to have a relationship with the child.

    Where legal complications can arise is if the treatment is not done through a registered clinic, as the donor may be considered a parent by law.

    Our specialist solicitors can discuss this with you and give advice.

  • Do I get paid for being a donor?

    It is illegal to pay for donation in the UK. You may be able to receive compensation, which is up to £750 per donation cycle for eggs, and £35 for sperm. You may be able to claim more if your travel or other expenses were more than this.

  • Can I donate to a family member?

    It is legal to donate to your family member, however there are restrictions on mixing the eggs and sperm of close family members, e.g., brother and sister (including half brothers/sister).

  • Am I a legal parent if I donate my sperm/egg?

    If you are a woman and you give birth to a child, you are automatically considered the legal parent of the child, regardless of whether the egg is donated or is your own.

    As a donor, providing you use a registered UK fertility clinic, you will have no legal rights or responsibilities towards any child conceived from your donation.

    However, this can be more complex if you do not use a registered clinic as you may be considered the legal parent.

    It is best to seek legal advice, as well as the advice of the fertility clinic, before embarking on the donation journey.

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Liza is the Managing Partner for our South Coast and Central team, overseeing the Winchester, Southampton, and other regional offices. She is experienced in divorce, financial matters, and legal issues involving children.

Date last reviewed: 23/04/2025

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