UK surrogacy reform delayed as outdated law leaves families in legal limbo

The UK postponed surrogacy reform in 2025 despite backing the Law Commission's 2023 proposals. Under the current 40-year-old law, the surrogate remains the legal mother at birth; intended parents must wait months for a parental order transferring legal parenthood. Prof Gillian Black flagged cases where this delayed a child's hospital treatment. Review author Prof Nicholas Hopkins warned the gap pushes parents toward riskier overseas arrangements.