Recorded Webinar: The High Court Verdict Is In - New Family Dynamics and Parental Rights

Rainbow families come in a multitude of diverse family forms, with some arrangements involving a number of adults all claiming a parental interest in a child. With the High Court’s recent decision in Masson v Parsons casting a new light on the meaning of ‘parent’, it has never been more important for family lawyers to understand each party’s rights and obligations. This session looks at the key issues to consider when creating new family dynamics, including:

• Who are the legal parents and why does it matter? Understanding the different variables in LGBTI families:
  • Supply of genetic material by one parent
  • Supply of genetic material by known versus unknown donors
  • The parental rights of de facto partners of donors
• Use of statement of intentions and donor agreements to navigate the arrangements
• Unpacking the High Court’s verdict in Masson v Parsons:
  • Does it challenge current interpretations of s 60H of the FLA?
  • Can a child now have more than two parents?
  • Is it possible to exclude donors from having a role as parent?
  • Relevance of ongoing involvement and relationship with the child