🧬 Fertility treatment and surrogacy: what to check

Before you start

1. 1. What to prepare

   Before treatment, confirm access, consent, donor information, funding and legal parentage. Before surrogacy, obtain independent specialist advice in every relevant jurisdiction.

2. 2. What to check

   Do not assume an overseas contract or birth certificate guarantees local parentage, citizenship, passports or entry. Plan these before paying or travelling.

3. 3. In South Africa

   Ask a registered fertility service about treatment, donor consent, costs and parentage under the Children’s Act. Same-sex marriage is available through the Civil Union Act; do not describe same-sex families as prohibited or assume marriage alone resolves every donor-conception issue.

4. 4. In South Africa

   The Children’s Act permits regulated altruistic surrogacy, not an unrestricted commercial market. A written agreement requires High Court confirmation before the surrogate is artificially fertilised; statutory requirements include domicile, medical indications and gamete/parentage rules. Obtain independent specialist advice before any treatment or payment; same-sex intended parents are not categorically excluded.

5. 5. In South Africa

   Register the birth with Home Affairs within 30 days. Ask which parentage documents are needed for your family; late registration has extra requirements. A birth certificate, citizenship and permission for international travel are separate issues.

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