What's the point of parenthood? The agreed parenthood provisions under the HFE Act 2008 and inconsistency with intention

This article illustrates the inconsistencies of the current law relating to intention as the basis for agreed parenthood. I argue that the courts are not always faithful to the underlying policy of recognising intention to attribute legal parenthood, in particular where the putative parents’ relationship has broken down. I claim that it is problematic to prioritise certainty of the existing inadequate procedural conditions at the expense of certainty for the child’s identity. A much clearer articulation of how intention is enshrined as the basis of parenthood is needed