Whilst changing your name through marriage is not compulsory, it’s a custom that still occurs today.
SURNAMES
Becoming a parent is a huge and life-changing event no matter what your sexual orientation.
CREATING YOUR GAYBY BABY
You may have a friend or a relative of your partner who may be willing to donate sperm to you or enter into a co-parenting relationship.
SOURCING YOUR SPERM
You can be a biological parent, but not a legal parent. Legal parent status emerges from the following situations.
ARE YOU A LEGAL PARENT?
Before choosing a known donor, be aware that there have been recent cases where a known donor has requested and been granted legal rights to the child.
KNOWN DONORS
An agreement between you, your partner and a donor is referred to as a donor agreement.
DONOR AGREEMENTS
It’s a good idea to think about embryos when doing your family planning.
WHO OWNS YOUR EMBRYOS?
For lesbians, IVF is a path to parenting that allows each partner to feel physically or biologically connected to their child.
IVF
A lesbian foster carer takes on the role of a parent to the child for a period of time to make sure a child has a safe and loving home.
BECOMING A FOSTER PARENT
Almost all states now provide for lesbian partners to be listed as a “parent” or (other) “mother” on their child’s birth certificate.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
It is important to select the person you want to make decisions for you if you were unable to make them for yourself.
WILLS & MEDICAL INCAPACITY
Like a will, health insurance is one of those things in life that we don’t always like to think about.
MEDICARE & HEALTH INSURANCE
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Two mothers can now be listed on a child’s passport application, but you should research the laws of the country you are travelling to for safety reasons.
PASSPORTS & TRAVEL
It’s important to know what our rights are and how we might proceed should a situation arise.
EMPLOYMENT & DISRCRIMINATION
Like all couples, lesbian relationships don’t start out with the idea that they might end.
SEPARATION
If you need to get a Divorce, check out the resources here and whether you need a lawyer to assist.
DIVORCE
The primary considerations of the Family Court in looking at what is best for a child are...
FAMILY COURT
Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman, known as the surrogate, agrees to carry a child in pregnancy for the intended parents.
SURROGACY
If you have been with your partner for a long time and have helped raise their child, then you may discuss adopting their child.
ADOPTING YOUR PARTNER'S CHILD
If you have used a sperm donor, then chances are your children will have donor siblings or 'diblings' in Australia and possibly overseas.