At First Law Solicitors, we help individuals and couples navigate the complex legal pathways of adoption and surrogacy in the United Kingdom and abroad. Our focus is to ensure that every decision, from application to parental order, is legally sound, ethically responsible, and emotionally supported.
Based in Manchester and serving clients across England and Wales, our firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID No: 665823). Each matter is led by a senior solicitor with over twenty years of post-qualification experience in family formation and child law, ensuring that every stage of your journey to parenthood is handled with precision and sensitivity.
Adoption creates a permanent legal relationship between adoptive parents and a child, transferring all parental rights and responsibilities from the birth parents or local authority. Once the Adoption Order is granted, it is final and lifelong.
In England and Wales, adoptions are governed by the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and administered through the Family Court. The process may involve a local authority, an approved adoption agency, or, in international cases, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption 1993.
We guide clients through every stage from initial assessments to court applications ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements and local authority procedures. Whether you are a single applicant, a couple, or a step-parent, our solicitors ensure that your case is properly prepared, your documentation is complete, and your legal rights are fully protected.
The adoption process typically begins with an assessment by an approved agency or local authority, followed by a matching process and formal placement. After a sufficient placement period, you may apply to the Family Court for an Adoption Order.
Our role is to ensure that the application demonstrates the stability and suitability of the placement, that all required consents have been obtained, and that the child’s welfare the paramount consideration under Section 1 of the 2002 Act is clearly evidenced.
In cases where consent is disputed, our team provides representation at contested hearings, ensuring that your case is presented with both legal accuracy and emotional tact. We also assist with Special Guardianship Orders, contact applications, and post-adoption legal support.
Surrogacy allows intended parents to have a child with the assistance of a surrogate who carries the pregnancy. UK law recognises the surrogate as the child’s legal mother at birth, regardless of genetic connection. Legal parenthood must therefore be transferred to the intended parents through a Parental Order, made under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.
The UK prohibits commercial surrogacy, but it allows the reimbursement of reasonable expenses. Agreements are not legally binding until after the child’s birth, making legal oversight essential from the outset.
As of December 2025, the existing surrogacy framework remains governed by the HFEA 2008 and relevant case law. The Government has publicly supported the proposed Surrogacy (Regulation and Reform) Bill, developed from the Law Commission’s Pathway to Parenthood Project (2023). However, this Bill has not yet been enacted.
The anticipated reforms, expected in 2026/2027, aim to create a Regulated Surrogacy Pathway, granting intended parents automatic legal status at birth and introducing safeguards such as pre-approval, counselling, and independent legal advice. Until that legislation is passed, all surrogacy arrangements remain subject to the current Parental Order regime.
We are already assisting clients in structuring their agreements and documentation to transition smoothly into the reformed system once it becomes law.
A Parental Order permanently transfers legal parenthood from the surrogate (and her spouse or civil partner, if applicable) to the intended parents. This is the final step in the surrogacy process and is central to ensuring that the child’s legal identity reflects their family reality.
We handle every stage of the application, confirming that all statutory criteria are met: one of the intended parents must have a genetic link to the child, the child must reside with them in the UK, and the surrogate’s consent must be freely given after six weeks.
In international surrogacy cases, additional documentation such as foreign birth certificates, medical reports, and immigration permissions are required. We liaise directly with the Home Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the General Register Office to ensure that your parental status is recognised in both jurisdictions.
It is important to distinguish between intercountry adoption and international surrogacy.
For adoption, the Hague Convention 1993 governs cross-border recognition, ensuring ethical procedures and safeguarding standards between participating countries.
For surrogacy, however, no equivalent international treaty exists. Recognition in the UK relies on Parental Ordersunder the HFEA 2008 and compliance with UK immigration and nationality laws. The courts assess every case using the child’s welfare principle under the Children Act 1989, rather than any treaty framework.
This distinction is crucial for intended parents entering into overseas arrangements. Our solicitors ensure that all steps from conception to entry clearance comply with UK law to prevent legal or immigration complications upon your return.
As of 2025, all family formation applications, including adoption and parental order,s are processed through the MyHMCTS digital platform. This reform streamlines communication with the court and allows greater transparency in case progression.
Our firm employs Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) for all client authorisations and operates under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which now governs the handling of sensitive medical, fertility, and child-related data. Every document is stored on encrypted servers, meeting the highest standards of confidentiality and compliance.
Adoption and surrogacy are emotionally significant and legally complex. At First Law Solicitors, we treat both with the same combination of technical mastery and human empathy that defines our practice.
We offer a complete legal service from early advisory and agreement drafting to final parental recognition tailored to your family’s circumstances. Our philosophy rests on three core principles:
Protection – Safeguarding your rights and your child’s welfare at every stage.
Precision – Ensuring every procedural and evidential requirement is met the first time.
Permanence – Securing finality and stability in your family’s legal status.
Whether you are adopting, entering a surrogacy arrangement, or planning for future reforms, we ensure that your pathway to parenthood is clear, compliant, and secure.
If you are exploring adoption or surrogacy, contact First Law Solicitors today. We provide confidential, strategic advice designed to protect your family and ensure your parental rights are legally recognised.
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