Law of 5 May 2014

The Law of 5 May 2014 considers the determination of the descent of the co-mother amended the Civil Code to ensure that women in a lesbian relationship no longer have to adopt their child. For married couples, the wife of the biological mother is automatically recognized as co-mother, while for non-married couples, the partner, in order to be recognized, has to recognize the child officially before or after its birth. In case of dispute considering the recognition of the co-mother, the agreements and informed consents, signed in the center for medically assisted propagation will serve as evidence for recognition (or non-recognition) of the co-mother. It is noteworthy that in Belgium, the concept of co-father does not yet exist and men thus still have to adopt in order to become the father of their child.