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Family Law Marriage & De Facto Reproductive Technology and Separation

Reproductive Technology and Separation

Updated on Jan 04, 2023 • 3 min read • 578 views • Copy Link

Michelle Makela

Published in Jun 05, 2020 • Updated on Jan 04, 2023 • 3 min read • 578 views

Reproductive Technology and Separation

Many couples each year seek services of assisted reproductive technology in the hope of having a child. One in six Australian couples suffer from fertility problems and around one in 25 Australian births are a result of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). As part of the IVF process, embryos may be created, frozen and stored ready to use by couples at a later point in time. Sometimes a couple separates while there are embryos still in storage ready to use. This article examines how the family law courts deal with that situation.

Who regulates IVF practices?

While legislation governing the use and creation of embryos varies between different states, the National Assisted Reproductive Technology guidelines provide for how IVF practices should be conducted ethically. Typically, upon agreeing to provide services involving reproductive technology, a clinic will enter into an agreement with the parties which requires all parties to give their consent as to what will happen in various circumstances including the breakdown of the relationship, the existence of leftover embryos after the completion of the family and the death of one party dies before the embryos have been used. The terms of these agreements will generally be upheld by the court unless there is a compelling argument made as to why they should not be.

Case law

The most notable court decision on this issue so far is the 2007 Family Court of Western Australia decision of G and G. In that case, six embryos were created with the use of a sperm donor. The embryos were then frozen and stored for use during a relationship between two women.

At the end of the relationship the women sought to have the embryos destroyed. The man wanted them transferred into his custody to be used by another infertile couple.

The consent signed at the beginning of the fertility treatment stated that the embryos would be destroyed in case of the relationship breaking down. The court upheld the consent signed by the parties and stated that the embryos should be discarded in accordance with the consent signed.

The Judge found that:

“…the embryos were created for a purpose to enable [Mrs G] to fall pregnant at a later date…The embryos should be allowed to succumb as the parties have now separated and can no longer achieve the purpose for which they consented to create and use the embryos.”

Based on this case it appears that the consent signed at the beginning of the procedure is crucial to determining how such a dispute will be resolved following the breakdown of a relationship. However, fast-moving developments in reproductive technology are likely to lead challenges to this decision and to the development of a large body of case law on this issue.

Legal advice

At GTC Lawyers, we have experience and knowledge in dealing with all aspects of family law. When a person is considering starting a family with the assistance of in vitro fertilisation, it is important that their wishes are made clear.

If you require legal advice in relation to reproductive technology or in any other legal matter, please contact Go To Court Lawyers.

Published in

Jun 05, 2020

Michelle Makela

National Practice Manager

Michelle Makela is a Legal Practice Director at Go To Court Lawyers. She holds a Juris Doctor, a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Criminology. She was admitted to practice in 2006. Michelle has over 15 years experience in the legal industry, working across commercial litigation, criminal law, family law and estate planning.

Home Family Law Marriage & De Facto Reproductive Technology and Separation

Michelle Makela

National Practice Manager

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Marriage & De Facto

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Michelle Makela

Reproductive Technology and Separation

Who regulates IVF practices?

Case law

Legal advice

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Michelle Makela

Michelle Makela