Commentary on Sections Part 2:  Parenthood in Cases Involving Assisted Reproduction Section 54: Parental orders
188.In section 54 there are new provisions extending the categories of couples who can apply for a parental order where a child has been conceived using the gametes of at least one of the couple, and has been carried by a surrogate mother. Under the new provisions, civil partners are able to apply, as can unmarried opposite-sex couples or same-sex couples not in a civil partnership. The other provisions relating to parental orders remain the same as the existing provisions of the 1990 Act. A single person remains unable to apply for a parental order.