December 13, 2024 marked a historic turning point for Australian families who've had children through overseas surrogacy. Family lawyer Stephen Page reveals how a seemingly "boring" regulation change has automatically recognized the parentage of thousands of children - without needing complex legal proceedings!
What changed on Black Friday 2024:
Countries now recognized include: Brazil, Canada (except Quebec), Colombia, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, UK, and USA.
This affects families who've pursued surrogacy in these destinations since 2014 (and even earlier). If you're named on your child's birth certificate from these countries, you're automatically presumed to be the legal parent under Australian law.
Why this matters: Previously, this provision was a "dead letter" - it existed but no countries were prescribed. Now thousands of families have instant legal recognition!
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