Hayley Trim's Analysis: Paying for Natural Parenthood

Paying for Natural Parenthood

On 16 June 2010 at the Children Law and Practice Conference Madeleine Reardon spoke about the meaning and significance of "natural parenthood". Coincidentally the same day Moylan J gave judgment in the case of T v B 2010 EWHC 1444 (Fam) as to whether the applicant mother's former lesbian partner was a "parent" for the purposes of a financial application under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989.

The couple had cohabited for 13 years until 2007 but were not civil partners. In 2000 a child was born to the mother following artificial insemination on their joint application. Following their separation the former partner (R) applied for contact and residence and a shared residence order was made giving R parental responsibility.

Paradoxically the mother asserted that R was a parent and that she had a financial responsibility towards the child ...

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