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Forming a Family and Assisted Reproduction

When you’re looking to start a family, it’s important to have the legal advice you need on hand when you need it – whichever route you choose. Our family law team work with you to look after your interests and those of your family from the beginning .

Meet the team

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Families we work with

We act for people from all walks of life, whether different sex couples trying to conceive through IVF to same sex couples starting a family with assisted reproduction.

We’ll be with you throughout the process to provide advice, guidance and understanding when you need it most.

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Legal advice that supports you throughout

Our extensive team has many years of experience. You can trust us to assist you with your most important asset – your family. We’ll be committed to achieving the best outcome for you while respecting your decisions. We provide advice on:

Surrogacy is becoming an increasingly popular option for those requiring assistance to have a child both in the UK and abroad. However, there are many legal pitfalls that intended parents and surrogates are often not aware of that may create unintended legal outcomes.

Getting legal support from our specialist lawyers at the start of your surrogacy journey will alleviate this risk. We will guide you through the process from pre-conception, birth registration, parental responsibility, and finally applying to the court for a parental order to transfer parentage.

We can provide specialist advice to ensure you understand who the legal parents are and steps that need to be taken at the pre-conception stage to achieve your desired legal outcome.

If you are planning to co-parent or start a family with a known donor, we can advise and draft a bespoke co-parenting or donor agreement to suit your circumstances and requirements. While such agreements are not legally binding, they serve as a clear record of your intentions, which a court may take into consideration in the event of a later dispute. Having an agreement is particularly important if you intend to co-parent with another individual or couple to ensure that your expectations align.

Adoption is the process that permanently severs the legal relationship between a child and their birth parents and reassigns it to the child’s adoptive parent(s), providing all the same rights and responsibilities. You may be a stepparent, have had a child through assisted reproduction or had a child placed with you for adoption by an adoption agency or local authority. We can guide you through the adoption process to help you legally secure the future of your family.

There are stringent rules that fertility clinics must adhere to in the UK, as regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. If you are preserving your fertility, we can assist you with any legal issues that you may have as a result of your stored eggs, sperm or embryos.

An often-overlooked issue is what will happen to your stored embryos in the event of a relationship breakdown. We can advise and draft specialist nuptial agreements setting this out to help alleviate a dispute or provide a clear record of your intentions at the time of preserving your fertility.

Sometimes disputes can arise out of surrogacy, co-parenting arrangements or when you have a donor-conceived child. If this should happen, we have the experience to be able to advise you and represent you at court if that should become necessary. This can be extremely stressful, and we’ll do our best to give you peace of mind.

Starting your family with assistance may mean that you and your family do not have automatic inheritance rights. We work closely with our Wills, Trusts and Probate team to ensure your will is tailored to your family’s unique circumstances, to provide the necessary protection and security.

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Hear what our clients say about us

I’d like to thank you for all your help and support given to me over the last few years. I cannot thank you enough for your true professionalism. I have felt that at every interaction we had that you really understood the impacts to me and my family personally.

You navigated me through a really challenging time at a pace that was right for me. It was hugely important that I had a settled family life, and that everyone was alright in the end and indeed we are!

 

Mrs F Financial settlement within divorce proceedings.

I just wanted to say a really big thank you for seeing me through the whole lengthy and tricky divorce process.

You were always there to answer my questions and listen to my ranting!

To have your consistency and steadiness was a huge support and I couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you for what you do!

Client Divorce proceedings

Following the conclusion of the matter, Lucy’s client said: “The service from Lucy was superb and I will definitely utilise your company in the future. Thank you for all your patience and understanding, it was a pleasure to work with you.”

Lucy said: “Whilst no one enters into a relationship thinking it could break down, making sure your financial interests are adequately protected is essential.”

Client Protecting financial interests

“From the outset, I found Lucy to be extremely efficient, reassuring, and had every faith in her.

I was kept informed fully and correspondence was always easy, with clear communication and swift responses.”

“Efficient, reassuring” guidance from Solicitor leads to testimonial following successful divorce settlement

One of the most significant family teams in the South West and fast becoming the leading financial remedy solicitors in the region. Very accessible and client focused – real strength in depth.

Legal 500 2024 – Family

HCR should be considered as the go-to firm for family law issues in Hereford and Worcester. HCR’s reputation for quality is well known and well justified.

Legal 500 2024 – Family

The firm has a strong presence in Birmingham and in Worcester as well as their other locations across the UK.

Legal 500 2024 – Family

I recommend this firm to family and friends as I know that they will be supported and well-advised through difficult times. The firm stands out as a class above other firms.

 

Legal 500 2024 – Family

HCR Hewitsons is a multidisciplinary firm with very strong local foundations, as well as an important presence in London. Not every firm can offer the same breadth and reach that they can.

Legal 500 2024 – Family

HCR have a growing presence in Cambridge and have gone from a standing start of no permanent family lawyers to build a growing team.

Legal 500 2024 – Family

The firm is well known for providing sound family law advice and representation at the highest levels. A good quality firm.

 

Legal 500 2024 – Family

The members of the practice are hardworking, conscientious and accessible to clients and professional colleagues. They work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for their clients whilst also ensuring they deliver sound advice and ensure that clients remain grounded and have a good understanding of how their case will progress.

Legal 500 2024 – Family

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