When parents separate, one of the most important questions is how arrangements for children will be recorded. Will the agreement be kept flexible through a parenting plan, or formalised in legally binding consent orders?
There is no single answer that suits every family. The right option depends on the level of trust between parents, the
Family and Fertility Australia Blog
Latest from Family and Fertility Australia Blog
Sperm donor family limit in Queensland explained
By Stephen Page
Queensland’s new sperm donor family limit was intended to create clarity, consistency and better access to donor sperm. Instead, guidance issued to IVF clinics has produced a result that appears to halve donor access for many lesbian couples.
The legislation provides for a 10-family limit. Yet where two women are in a couple and seek…
NSW fertility inquiry: surrogacy evidence under scrutiny
By Stephen Page
The New South Wales Legislative Council fertility inquiry is examining difficult and practical questions about access to assisted reproductive treatment. Distance matters. Cost matters. Regulation matters. For many people trying to create a family, these are not abstract policy concerns. They can determine whether treatment is available at all.
Among the issues before the inquiry…
Surrogacy lawyer explains upcoming ALRC reports
By Stephen Page
Australia is approaching an important moment for family and fertility law. By the end of July 2026 and during August 2026, the Australian Law Reform Commission, or ALRC, is expected to deliver two major reports to Commonwealth Attorney General Michelle Rowland.
One report will address surrogacy law. The other will examine Australia’s human tissue laws.…
Overseas surrogacy births now recognised in Australia
By Stephen Page
For years, the recognition of parents through overseas surrogacy has been unnecessarily uncertain. Australian intended parents could return home with a child, a foreign birth certificate and a foreign court order, yet still face questions about whether Australian law recognised them as parents.
That position changed on 1 April 2025. It may be April Fool’s…
Do children have a say in parenting cases? Lawyer explains
By Bruce Provan
In Australian parenting cases, children can have a say. That much is clear. But the more accurate answer is that yes, children’s views matter, but the weight given to those views depends on the individual child and the circumstances of the case.
That is often where confusion starts. Many parents assume a child can simply…
Navigating the Surrogacy Journey with Confidence and Clarity
By Stephen Page
The surrogacy process is a transformative method of family-building. In the Australian context, this path is built on altruistic foundations, requiring deep emotional synchronicity and meticulous legal adherence between all parties involved. By focusing on structured organisation and proactive emotional care, you can transform a complex logistical challenge into a rewarding experience of connection and…
WA surrogacy law: same-sex couples win landmark case
By Stephen Page
For far too long, Western Australia singled out gay couples, single men, and many others in the LGBTQIA+ community for unequal treatment under its surrogacy law. That discrimination has now been struck down in a landmark case, and it is a significant step forward for fairness, family formation, and legal common sense.
The case was…
International Surrogacy Insights: Join Me at the Growing Families Conference
By Stephen Page
International surrogacy can open extraordinary possibilities for intended parents, but it also comes with legal complexity that should never be underestimated. The rules are different from country to country, sometimes from state to state within the same country, and what looks straightforward at the beginning can become very complicated once parentage, citizenship, travel and documentation…
30 Years a Specialist & 21 Years Together: The Page Provan Story
By Stephen Page
Some anniversaries arrive with fanfare. Others sneak up quietly and then suddenly feel enormous.
At the end of June and the beginning of July 2026, two milestones sit side by side. One marks 30 years as an accredited family law specialist. The other marks 21 years working alongside Bruce Provan. Together, they say something important…