Edward Cooke Family Law acts in complex international surrogacy case
07 July 2026
The Guardian cover an international surrogacy case in which we acted.
Victoria Maxwell from our modern families team appeared in PP & Anor v RR (leave to withdraw parental order application) Neutral Citation Number [2026] EWFC 172 alongside Melissa Elsworth of 1GC. Victoria and Melissa represented the Applicant Intended Parents in a complex overseas surrogacy arrangement in Sri Lanka.
The Honourable Mr Justice Peel handed down his interim judgment last week and the case has been reported in the national law archives, on account of the complexities of the matter.
The court showed great flexibility in determining the application to find a solution which would be in the children’s best interests. Mr Justice Peel said, “From everything I have read and heard, the Applicants are giving the children outstanding care. They are the de facto parents of these young children who need permanence and stability. Adoption would confer legal parentage and parental responsibility.”
