Counting the cost

A case heard in the Leeds High Court last month, (as yet unreported) highlights again the issue of who pays for children when relationships end, and the more general question of what we understand by “parent”. It is the possible ramifications which are of interest to practitioners. The future may well bring more such cases to the high street practitioner who will have to advise on this and related issues in same sex relationships (particularly those with children) in the future.

The basic information on this case is that a former same sex couple who began their relationship in 1994 and lived together until 2007 (but did not enter into a formal relationship and therefore had no civil partnership) were attempting to resolve issues of maintenance in respect of a child for whom both appeared to have had caring responsibilities. The child was born as a result of treatment using an authorised clinic and anonymous donor sperm after they both applied for the