Donation and the Law

Recipients:

Like adopted people, people born from donations have a right to ask the regulatory body (The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) (HFEA):  www.hfea.gov.uk for the donors identity when they reach age 18 or older.

If you and your partner were treated together at a UK licensed fertility centre, you are the legal parents of the offspring and should put your name on the birth certificate.

The child has no legal, financial, social or moral rights over their donor.

Receiving Donated Eggs

Receiving Donated Sperm

Donors:

Over the last few years, attitudes towards donation and peoples right to know about their parentage and genetic origins have changed.

Like adopted people, people born from donations have the right to ask the regulatory body (The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) (HFEA) if they were conceived using donated eggs or sperm and if they were conceived after 2005, the identity of their donor.

Since October 2009 donors now have new rights to access information about themselves held by the HFEA.  Donors will have a right to find out if their donation has been successful; the number of children born as a result of their donation, their sex and year of birth.

The person/people who received your donation will be the childs legal and social parent(s)  you will not be named on the birth certificate.

You have no legal, financial or social obligations to any child created from your donation either now or when they reach the age of 18.

Donors may claim expenses incurred in connection with the donation process, for example the cost of childcare, travel costs and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Additionally, you can also claim compensation for loss of earnings up to a daily maximum of £55.19, with an overall maximum of £250 per course of sperm donation.