Making a will should be on everyone’s to-do lists , especially for those with children or assets (to ensure everything is managed correctly if they die). But for individuals entering into a surrogacy arrangement (the intended parents and the surrogate), making a will or updating an existing will for surrogacy is particularly important.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about surrogacy and wills, so that you are fully prepared when it comes to starting the process.
What is a surrogacy arrangement?
In short, a surrogacy arrangement is a legally binding agreement between intended parents and a surrogate mother where the surrogate mother agrees to carry and give birth to a child for the intended parents.
The surrogate mother may be the genetic mother – ie her own egg was used to create the embryo (referred to as partial surrogacy) – or she may have had a fertilized embryo implanted in her womb (full surrogacy), in which case she would not be genetically related to the child.
As it is a legally binding agreement , surrogacy arrangements usually include a series of steps and agreements to ensure that the process is carried out smoothly and legally.
The importance of updating your will for surrogacy
P’un a ydych chi’n ymrwymo i drefniant surrogacy gyda rhywun rydych chi wedi cael eich paru ag ef neu ffrind agos/aelod o’r teulu, mae ewyllys yn nodi beth fydd yn digwydd os byddwch chi’n marw.
Gyda’r rhan fwyaf o deuluoedd, mae’r gyfraith yn rhoi amddiffyniad cyfreithiol sylfaenol i briod a’u plant os bydd rhiant yn marw heb gael ewyllys ar waith. Fodd bynnag, nid yw’r amddiffyniadau hynny’n bodoli mewn achosion surrogacy. Mae hyn oherwydd, o dan Cyfraith y DU, nid yw’r rhieni arfaethedig yn cael eu cydnabod yn awtomatig fel rhieni cyfreithiol plant a anwyd trwy surrogacy.
Yn hytrach, y surrogate a enedigodd y plentyn yw’r fam gyfreithiol nes bod hawliau rhieni yn cael eu hailaseinio yn rhinwedd y gorchymyn rhieni. Os bydd un o’r oedolion sy’n ymwneud â threfniad surrogacy yn marw yn annisgwyl cyn i orchymyn rhieni gael ei ganiatáu, bydd y rheolau diofyn o fudd i’r bobl anghywir.
Fodd bynnag, gellir datrys yr amgylchiadau hyn trwy ddiweddaru eich ewyllys bresennol. Mae ewyllysiau yn cadarnhau bwriadau pob person ac yn galluogi’r dirprwyon a’r rhieni arfaethedig i fynegi eu dymuniadau mewn perthynas â gwarcheidiaeth ac etifeddiaeth y plentyn.
Ewyllysiau ar gyfer Rhieni Arfaethedig
Yn y DU, mae’n rhaid i’r rhieni bwriadu fynd trwy broses gyfreithiol i sefydlu eu hawliau rhieni, a gall diweddaru ewyllys bresennol ar gyfer surrogacy gefnogi’r gydnabyddiaeth hon. Bydd angen i’r rhieni arfaethedig benodi gwarcheidwaid a fydd yn gofalu am eu plentyn os byddant yn marw, er mwyn sicrhau bod lles a magwraeth y plentyn yn unol â’u dymuniadau.
Heb ewyllys wedi’i diweddaru’n iawn, gallai fod ansicrwydd ynghylch sut y bydd asedau yn cael eu dosbarthu i’r plentyn a anwyd trwy surrogacy. Trwy roi’r plentyn y hawl etifeddiaeth Yn yr ewyllys, bydd y rhieni arfaethedig yn darparu sicrwydd ariannol ar gyfer eu dyfodol. Mae risg na fydd y plentyn yn cael ei adael gydag unrhyw beth os nad oes darpariaeth ar gyfer hyn.
Efallai y bydd y dirprwy hefyd eisiau’r sicrwydd bod ei threuliau/iawndal yn cael eu talu rhag ofn marwolaeth annisgwyl y rhiant arfaethedig neu’r ddau o’r rhiant, a gellir darparu hyn hefyd.
Ewyllysiau ar gyfer Dirprwyon
Mae hefyd yn bwysig y dylai dirprwy benodi’r rhieni arfaethedig fel gwarcheidwaid cyfreithiol y plentyn a sicrhau na fyddai’r plentyn dirprwy yn etifeddu cyfran o’i asedau. Heb hyn yn ei le, gallai plant y surrogate golli cyfran o’u hetifeddiaeth os bydd hi’n marw yn ystod y broses surrogacy.
In the UK, surrogacy laws are complex and can vary depending on the circumstances of each case. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that intended parents and surrogates seek legal advice and update their wills to ensure that their rights, responsibilities and intentions regarding surrogacy are fully understood and protected.
How to update your will for surrogacy:
In the UK, updating your will to provide for surrogacy means following certain legal and procedural requirements. Here’s a guide on how to do that:
- Consult a Lawyer – Start the process by consulting a lawyer who specializes in wills and cases related to surrogacy. These professional lawyers will have the expertise to guide you through the surrogacy process and ensure that your will is legally valid and that your child is fully protected. If you would like to speak to one of our friendly wills and probate lawyers about updating your will or creating a will for surrogacy, contact us today.
- Decide on your intentions – Think about how you want to address surrogacy in your will. Decide who you want to appoint as guardians if your children are born via surrogacy in case you and your partner die, most commonly other family members or close friends. Make sure the chosen guardian is ready to take on this responsibility and is happy for you to appoint them as guardians in your will. Also consider how you want to determine parental rights, and how you want to distribute assets to your child.
- Witness and Signatures – Make sure your updated or new will is properly witnessed and signed. In the UK, you will often need two witnesses who are not beneficiaries or beneficiaries’ spouses/civil partners to sign your will with you. Remember to review and validate your updated will with your solicitor to ensure it complies with UK surrogacy laws and regulations.
We hope this article has helped point you in the right direction when it comes to updating your will for surrogacy.
If you would like to speak to one of our wills and probate lawyers about updating your will for surrogacy, or any other legal advice , please do not hesitate to contact us .
For more news and tips about the wonderful world of law, check out our helpful law blog .
