Reported Case: 7 Members of 4PB appear in Re N (Paternity: Unregulated Sperm Donor) [2026] EWHC 878 (Fam)

The President of the Family Division has handed down judgment in Re N (Paternity: Unregulated Sperm Donor) [2026] EWHC 878 (Fam), providing an important decision on Parentage. 7 members of 4PB appeared in the matter:

• Sam King KC and Charlotte Baker (instructed by Goodman Ray) appeared on behalf of the Applicant.
• Andrew Powell KC and Nadia Campbell-Brunton (instructed by Kingsley Napley) appeared on behalf of the 1st Respondent.
• Rebecca Foulkes and Clarissa Wigoder (instructed by Forsters LLP) appeared on behalf of the 2nd Respondent.
• Deirdre Fottrell KC (instructed by Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) appeared on behalf of the 3rd Respondent.

In this case, the president refused to make a declaration of parentage to a donor father on public policy grounds. The case involved consideration of complex issues of the interface between child law and fertility law. It is the first occasion on which the family court has refused to make a declaration in such circumstances. This is an important decision in this developing area of law and has attracted widespread media coverage.

Read the judgment here.

Media Coverage:

• BBC
• The Independent
• The Guardian