LGBTQ+ Parents - Relationship Breakdown & Disputes Concerning Children

Introduction

Disputes about children may arise after any relationship breakdown and require adjudication in the family court. For LGBTQ+ parents, the court process can be particularly complex, as the procedural rights of each parent will differ depending on their legal parenthood status.

This virtual classroom seminar will provide you with an understanding of the legal definitions of parenthood, their concomitant rights and responsibilities, and what effect parenthood status can have on the ability for a LGBTQ+ parent to make an application to the court. It will also look at the options available to non-legal parents, multi-parent families, and in particular, the acquisition of parental responsibility.

The session will also address the specific concerns that can arise when a parent is involved in a surrogacy journey or is in the process of affirming a different gender.

Given the growing number of ‘alternative families,’ it is incumbent on all family law practitioners to understand the different challenges that LGBTQ+ parents can face when involved in disputes about children.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• Legal parenthood and the ability to apply for orders
• Parental responsibility: who has it, who is entitled to apply for a parental responsibility order, and what are the options for everyone else?
• Three - or more - parent families and relationship breakdown
• The importance (or not?) of biology to the child’s welfare
• Relationship breakdown during a surrogacy journey
• Relationship breakdown due to one parent transitioning

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.