Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

PARENTAGE ACT 2004 - NOTES

(see s 3)

Note 1     The Legislation Act

contains definitions and other provisions relevant to this Act.

Note 2     For example, the Legislation Act

, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:

              •     civil partner

              •     civil partnership

              •     civil union

              •     civil union partner

              •     doctor

              •     domestic partner (see s 169 (1))

              •     domestic partnership (see s 169 (2))

              •     foreign country

              •     nurse

              •     parent

              •     registrar-general.

"birth parent", of a child, for division 2.5 (Surrogacy)—see section 23.

"birth sibling", of a child, for division 2.5 (Surrogacy)—see section 23.

"commencement day", for subdivision 2.5.4 (Parentage orders—particular arrangements entered into before Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Act 2024)—see section 31A.

"commercial arrangement", for subdivision 2.5.4 (Parentage orders—particular arrangements entered into before Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Act 2024)—see section 31A.

"commercial surrogacy arrangement"—see section 40.

"foreign jurisdiction" means a foreign country or part of a foreign country.

"genetic parent", of a child, means a person whose gametes were used to create the embryo.

"intended parent", of a child, for division 2.5 (Surrogacy)—see section 23.

"parentage declaration" means a declaration under section 19.

"parentage order" means an order under section 28H.

"parentage testing order", for division 2.6 (Use of medical tests in establishing parentage)—see section 34.

"partner", of a birth parent, for division 2.5 (Surrogacy)—see section 23.

"payment or reward", for subdivision 2.5.4 (Parentage orders—particular arrangements entered into before Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Act 2024)—see section 40 (2).

"presumed parent", of a child, for division 2.5 (Surrogacy)—see section 23.

"procedure", for division 2.5 (Surrogacy)—see section 23.

"reasonable expense", in relation to a presumed parent under a surrogacy arrangement—see section 24.

"register of births" means the register maintained under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997

in which births are registered.

"surrogacy arrangement "means a contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding under which a birth parent and an intended parent or 2 intended parents agree—

        (a)     that the birth parent will become, or attempt to become, pregnant; and

        (b)     that the child born as a result of the pregnancy will be taken to be (whether by adoption, agreement or otherwise) the child of the intended parent or intended parents.

Endnotes

1     About the endnotes

Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.

Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001

, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.

Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.

If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.

The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.

2     Abbreviation key

A = Act	NI = Notifiable instrument
AF = Approved form	o = order
am = amended	om = omitted/repealed
amdt = amendment	ord = ordinance
AR = Assembly resolution	orig = original
ch = chapter	par = paragraph/subparagraph
CN = Commencement notice	pres = present
def = definition	prev = previous
DI = Disallowable instrument	(prev...) = previously
dict = dictionary	pt = part
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative	r = rule/subrule
Assembly	reloc = relocated
div = division	renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired	R[X] = Republication No
Gaz = gazette	RI = reissue
hdg = heading	s = section/subsection
IA = Interpretation Act 1967	sch = schedule
ins = inserted/added	sdiv = subdivision
LA = Legislation Act 2001	SL = Subordinate law
LR = legislation register	sub = substituted
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996	underlining = whole or part not commenced
mod = modified/modification	or to be expired

3     Legislation history

Parentage Act 2004 A2004-1

notified LR 18 February 2004

s 1, s 2 commenced 18 February 2004 (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 22 March 2004 (s 2 and CN2004-3

)

as amended by

Civil Unions Act 2006

A2006-22 sch 1 pt 1.23

notified LR 19 May 2006

s 1, s 2 commenced 19 May 2006 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.23 never commenced

Note     Act repealed by disallowance 14 June 2006 (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)

Civil Partnerships Act 2008

A2008-14 sch 1 pt 1.19

notified LR 15 May 2008

s 1, s 2 commenced 15 May 2008 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.19 commenced 19 May 2008 (s 2 and CN2008-8

)

Adoption Amendment Act 2009 (No 2)

A2009-36 sch 1 pt 1.4

notified LR 22 October 2009

s 1, s 2 commenced 22 October 2009 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.4 commenced 22 April 2010 (s 2 and LA s 79)

Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011

A2011-22 sch 1 pt 1.118

notified LR 30 June 2011

s 1, s 2 commenced 30 June 2011 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.118 commenced 1 July 2011 (s 2 (1))

Evidence (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011

A2011-48 sch 1 pt 1.28

notified LR 22 November 2011

s 1, s 2 commenced 22 November 2011 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 1 pt 1.28 commenced 1 March 2012 (s 2 (1) and see Evidence Act 2011

A2011-12, s 2 and CN2012-4

)

Statute Law Amendment Act 2012

A2012-21 sch 3 pt 3.33

notified LR 22 May 2012

s 1, s 2 commenced 22 May 2012 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 3 pt 3.33 commenced 5 June 2012 (s 2 (1))

Civil Unions Act 2012

A2012-40 sch 3 pt 3.21

notified LR 4 September 2012

s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2012 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 3 pt 3.21 commenced 11 September 2012 (s 2)

Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013

A2013-39 sch 2 pt 2.19

notified LR 4 November 2013

s 1, s 2 commenced 4 November 2013 (LA s 75 (1))

sch 2 pt 2.19 commenced 7 November 2013 (s 2 and CN2013-11

)

Note     The High Court held this Act to be of no effect (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55)

Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2016

A2016-7 pt 5

notified LR 29 February 2016

s 1, s 2 commenced 29 February 2016 (LA s 75 (1))

pt 5 commenced 29 August 2016 (s 2 and LA s 79)

Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Act 2024

A2024-31

notified LR 9 July 2024

s 1, s 2 commenced 9 July 2024 (LA s 75 (1))

remainder commenced 10 July 2024 (s 2 (1))

4     Amendment history

Commencement
s 2     om LA s 89 (4)

Dictionary
s 3     am A2024-31

s 5

Presumptions arising from marriage, civil union or civil partnership
s 7 hdg     sub A2006-22

amdt 1.95 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdt 1.65; A2012-40

amdt 3.84
s 7     am A2006-22

amdts 1.96-1.101 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdts 1.66-1.69; A2012-40

amdts 3.85-3.87
    sub A2016-7

s 46

Presumption arising from domestic partnership
s 8     am A2016-7

s 47

Presumptions arising from procedure
s 11     sub A2016-7

s 48
    am A2024-31

s 6

Application for parentage declaration
s 15     am A2016-7

s 49, s 50

Annulment of parentage declaration
s 22     am A2016-7

s 51

Surrogacy
div 2.5 hdg     sub A2024-31

s 7

Surrogacy
sdiv 2.5.1 hdg     ins A2024-31

s 7

Definitions—div 2.5
s 23     sub A2024-31

s 8
    def birth parent am A2016-7

s 52
    sub A2024-31

s 8
    def birth sibling sub A2016-7

s 53; A2024-31

s 8
    def commercial substitute parent agreement om A2024-31

s 8
    def intended parent ins A2024-31

s 8
    def parentage order om A2024-31

s 8
    def partner ins A2024-31

s 8
    def presumed parent ins A2024-31

s 8
    def procedure sub A2016-7

s 54; A2024-31

s 8
    def substitute parent om A2024-31

s 8
    def substitute parent agreement am A2016-7

s 55
    om A2024-31

s 8

Meaning of reasonable expense
s 24     (2), (3) exp 22 March 2006 (s 24 (3))
    sub A2024-31

s 8

Provision of counselling
s 25     sub A2024-31

s 8

Surrogacy arrangements
sdiv 2.5.2 hdg     ins A2024-31

s 8

Surrogacy arrangement must be in writing
s 26     am A2016-7

s 56
    sub A2024-31

s 8

Parties to surrogacy arrangement
s 27     sub A2024-31

s 8

Legal advice
s 28     am A2016-7

s 57
    sub A2024-31

s 8

Counselling
s 28A     ins A2024-31

s 8

Age of intended parent
s 28B     ins A2024-31

s 8

Age of birth parent
s 28C     ins A2024-31

s 8

Reasonable expenses incurred
s 28D     ins A2024-31

s 8

Rights of birth parent
s 28E     ins A2024-31

s 8

Parentage orders
sdiv 2.5.3 hdg     ins A2024-31

s 8

Application—subdiv 2.5.3
s 28F     ins A2024-31

s 8

Application for parentage order
s 28G     ins A2024-31

s 8

Making of parentage order
s 28H     ins A2024-31

s 8

Relevant considerations for making of parentage order
s 28I     ins A2024-31

s 8

Content of parentage order
s 28J     ins A2024-31

s 8

Multiple births
s 28K     ins A2024-31

s 8

Name of child
s 28L     ins A2024-31

s 8

Effect of parentage order and access to information
s 29     am A2009-36

amdt 1.6; A2011-22

amdt 1.347; A2024-31

s 9, s 10

Medical information
s 30     am A2016-7

s 58, s 59; A2024-31

s 11

Effect of surrogacy arrangements
s 31     sub A2024-31

s 12

Parentage orders—particular arrangements entered into before Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Act 2024
sdiv 2.5.4 hdg     ins A2024-31

s 13

Definitions—subdiv 2.5.4
s 31A     ins A2024-31

s 13
    def commencement day ins A2024-31

s 13
    def commercial arrangement ins A2024-31

s 13
    def payment or reward ins A2024-31

s 13

Parentage order—commercial arrangement made and child born before commencement day
s 31B     ins A2024-31

s 13

Effect of parentage order mentioned in s 31B and access to information
s 31C     ins A2024-31

s 13

Effect of parentage order on commercial substitute parent agreement
s 31D     ins A2024-31

s 13

Children all of equal status
s 38     am A2006-22

amdt 1.102, amdt 1.103 (A2006-22

rep before commenced by disallowance (see Cwlth Gaz 2006 No S93)); A2008-14

amdt 1.70; A2012-40

amdt 3.88, amdt 3.89; A2016-7

s 60

Construction of instruments
s 39     am A2016-7

s 61, s 62

Offences relating to surrogacy arrangement
pt 4 hdg     sub A2024-31

s 14

Meaning of commercial surrogacy arrangement
s 40     sub A2024-31

s 15

Commercial surrogacy arrangements prohibited
s 41 hdg     sub A2024-31

s 16
s 41     am A2024-31

s 17

Procuring commercial surrogacy arrangements
s 42 hdg     sub A2024-31

s 18
s 42     am A2024-31

s 19, s 20

Advertising in relation to commercial surrogacy arrangements
s 43 hdg     sub A2024-31

s 21
s 43     am A2024-31

s 22, s 23

Facilitating pregnancy
s 44     am A2024-31

s 24, s 25

Proof of orders etc about parentage
s 48     sub A2011-48

amdt 1.45

Approved forms
s 49     am A2012-21

amdt 3.127

Regulation-making power
s 50     am A2012-21

amdt 3.128

Repeals and consequential amendments
pt 6 hdg     om LA s 89 (3)

Legislation repealed
s 51     om LA s 89 (3)

Legislation amended—sch 1
s 52     om LA s 89 (3)

Transitional—Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Act 2024
pt 7 hdg     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Definitions—pt 7
s 53     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Parentage order—substitute parent agreement and no parentage order before commencement day
s 54     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Parentage order—arrangement made and child born before commencement day
s 55     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Parentage order—arrangement made, but child not born, before commencement day
s 56     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Parentage order—commercial arrangement made, but child not born, before commencement day
s 57     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Effect of parentage order mentioned in s 55 (4) and access to information
s 58     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Effect of parentage order on commercial substitute parent agreement
s 59     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Expiry—pt 7
s 60     ins A2024-31

s 26
    exp 10 July 2029 (s 60)

Consequential amendments
sch 1     om LA s 89 (3)

Dictionary
dict     am A2008-14

amdt 1.71; A2012-40

amdt 3.90, A2013-39

amdt 2.50 (A2013-39

never effective (see Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55))
    def birth parent sub A2024-31

s 27
    def birth sibling sub A2024-31

s 27
    def commencement day ins A2024-31

s 29
    def commercial arrangement ins A2024-31

s 29
    def commercial substitute parent agreement om A2024-31

s 28
    def commercial surrogacy arrangement ins A2024-31

s 29
    def intended parent ins A2024-31

s 29
    def parentage order sub A2024-31

s 30
    def partner ins A2024-31

s 31
    def payment or reward ins A2024-31

s 31
    def presumed parent ins A2024-31

s 31
    def procedure sub A2024-31

s 32
    def reasonable expense ins A2024-31

s 33
    def substitute parent om A2024-31

s 34
    def substitute parent agreement om A2024-31

s 34
    def surrogacy arrangement ins A2024-31

s 35

5     Earlier republications

Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.

Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.

Republication No and date	Effective	Last amendment made by	Republication for
R1 22 Mar 2004	22 Mar 2004– 22 Mar 2006	not amended	new Act
R2 23 Mar 2006	23 Mar 2006– 18 May 2008	not amended	commenced expiry
R3 19 May 2008	19 May 2008– 21 Apr 2010	A2008-14

amendments by A2008-14

R4
22 Apr 2010

22 Apr 2010–
30 June 2011

A2009-36

amendments by A2009-36

R5
1 July 2011

1 July 2011–
29 Feb 2012

A2011-22

amendments by A2011-22

R6
1 Mar 2012

1 Mar 2012–
4 June 2012

A2011-48

amendments by A2011-48

R7
5 June 2012

5 June 2012–
10 Sept 2012

A2012-21

amendments by A2012-21

R8
11 Sept 2012

11 Sept 2012–
6 Nov 2013

A2012-40

amendments by A2012-40

R9
7 Nov 2013

never effective

A2013-39

(never effective)

amendments by A2013-39

R9 (RI)
24 Feb 2014

7 Nov 2013–
28 Aug 2016

A2013-39

(never effective)

reissued because of High Court decision in relation to A2013-39

R10
29 Aug 2016

29 Aug 2016–
9 July 2024

A2016-7

amendments by A2016-7

© Australian Capital Territory 2024

Australian Capital Territory

A2004-1

Republication No 11

Effective: 10 July 2024

Republication date: 10 July 2024

Last amendment made by A2024-31

This is a republication of the Parentage Act 2004

(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001

, part 11.3 (Editorial changes)) as in force on 10 July 2024

. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 10 July 2024

.

The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4.

Kinds of republications

The Parliamentary Counsel's Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au

):

              • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001

applies

              • unauthorised republications.

The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2001

, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001

, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.

This republication includes amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).

Uncommenced provisions and amendments

If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol  U  appears immediately before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au

). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register.

Modifications

If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol  M  appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001

, section 95.

Penalties

At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001

, s 133).

Australian Capital Territory

Parentage Act 2004

Endnotes49

Australian Capital Territory

Parentage Act 2004