B & Anor v D & Anor [2025] EWFC 366 (29 October 2025)

B & Anor v D & Anor [2025] EWFC 366 (29 October 2025)

The court was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the surrogate could not be found despite all reasonable steps, the statutory criteria under s54 HFEA 2008 were met, and making a parental order was in H's lifelong welfare interests.

Citation
[2025] EWFC 366
Parties
Applicant: B; Applicant: C; Respondent: D; Respondent: H (by her Children's Guardian)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
29 October 2025
Procedural Posture
Parental Order Application (surrogacy) / Final Judgment
Outcome
Parental order granted in favour of the applicants in relation to H.
Legal Topics
Surrogacy, Parental Orders, Dispensing With Consent, Child Welfare, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008

Case Brief

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Parties

B

Applicant

C

Applicant

D

Respondent

H (by her Children's Guardian)

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Parental Order Application (surrogacy) / Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the statutory criteria for a parental order under s54 HFEA 2008 are met
  2. 2 Whether the surrogate's consent can be dispensed with under s54(7) HFEA 2008
  3. 3 Whether payments made were for expenses reasonably incurred

Ratio Decidendi

The court was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the surrogate could not be found despite all reasonable steps, the statutory criteria under s54 HFEA 2008 were met, and making a parental order was in H's lifelong welfare interests.

Court Disposition

Parental order granted in favour of the applicants in relation to H.

Orders

  • A parental order is made in favour of B and C in respect of H.