Reproductive Assistance Law
Reign Legal Principal Melissa Buchanan is passionate about advising same-sex couples and single parents-to-be on the implementation of solid Parenting Agreements that provide security and support their intentions, in the early stages of taking delivery of their child via surrogacy or engaging with a sperm donor in donor pregnancy.
The Parenting Agreement aims to ensure and further solidify that your child is considered a child of your relationship, and that the surrogate or sperm donor remains as that – a person with no parenting obligations.
With a keen awareness of the pain and desperation felt by couples and individuals to have a child, many of which IVF or surrogacy is simply unattainable financially, and who may willingly risk future family court applications being brought against them due to lack of paperwork and knowledge; Melissa is providing support and advice to protect against potential future litigation from what is referred to as ‘interested persons applications’.
Should a surrogate or donor bring an application to spend time with the child as ‘interested person’ in the future, it is likely this would be unsuccessful due to the coupling of strong agreements of donor or surrogacy clinics and agencies, where used, and the creation, where necessary of a parenting agreement which was established and executed upon the birth of the child.
For international surrogacy matters, Melissa works in partnership with the chosen surrogacy agency who are managing the surrogate and the surrogacy process, and where donor sperm is used, preparing agreements to be sent to the donor on behalf of the client which also ensures:
- The safe passage of an internationally born surrogate baby home to Australia with their parents; and/or
- The written renunciation of any parenting obligations of a donor of sperm;
Each case is different, with diverse and complex needs and challenges. Melissa’s clients have included couples in a long-distance relationship residing in Australia and Asia, who in addition to the Parenting agreement also required liaison with their immigration agent to support one parent’s application for permanent residency and VISA status; to another requiring support for succession pregnancies, planning to bring two babies’ home. Melissa will carefully review the individual needs for each parent and situation and present advice on the best steps forward.
Frequently asked questions:
To speak to Melissa about Parenting Agreements for Reproductive Assistance legal matters, contact her at:
Melissa Buchanan
Principal / Director