Jersey Surrogacy Guidance

Jersey Surrogacy Guidance

R.156/2025

Entering a Surrogacy Arrangement

This document offers general guidance on surrogacy arrangements in Jersey to support amendments made by the Children and Civil Status (Amendments) (Jersey) Law 2024 to the:

• Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001

• Children (Jersey) Law 2002

It should not be used as a substitute for independent legal advice, as every family has different circumstances.

This document is intended for families whose child was born via surrogacy in Jersey. If your surrogacy arrangement and child's birth took place in the UK, please refer to the Further Advice and Guidance' section for information on UK surrogacy organisations.

In a surrogacy arrangement a woman makes an agreement before becoming pregnant via assisted reproduction to have a child for a single person or couple, to enable them to become parents. Surrogacy is an option for anyone who cannot carry a baby themselves. Male same-sex couples may use surrogacy to become parents. Surrogacy is also considered by couples or individuals with medical or fertility conditions meaning that they cannot conceive or carry a baby. An altruistic model of surrogacy is permitted in Jersey. This means payment beyond direct costs and reasonable expenses are not permitted. The surrogate should not benefit financially from the arrangement. The costs associated with surrogacy can be high, and careful consideration should be given to finances before proceeding. After a surrogate has given birth in Jersey, the receiving parent/s will need to apply to the Royal Court for a Parental Order, which will provide them with legal parental status and parental responsibility.

Applications for Parental Orders should be sent to the Family Division of the Royal Court: +44 (0) 1534 441336 or [email protected]

Finding a Surrogate

The Assisted Reproductive Unit (ARU) can provide support and guidance to parents starting a surrogacy journey. The ARU cannot assist with finding a surrogate. However, if the surrogate is a Jersey resident the ARU can provide a shared care' service. Recognised UK surrogacy organisations can help receiving parents to find a surrogate. In the UK, advertising surrogacy arrangements outside this route is prohibited. Receiving parents can also find the surrogate by themselves, such as via a family contact, but this has risks regarding lack of external support or safeguards. For medical and legal reasons, it is strongly advised that the treatment of the surrogate should be supported by the ARU and/or take place in the UK via a fertility clinic licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

It is important that the receiving parent/s and the surrogate can cope with the emotional demands of a surrogacy relationship and fully understand the implications for themselves and their families. There are risks associated with surrogacy. The surrogate and receiving parent/s should get to know and trust each other before deciding whether to proceed with fertility treatment. The principles of free, unconditional, and informed consent should be at the heart of the surrogacy arrangement to prevent the coercion or exploitation of either party.

Treatment Options

There are two types of surrogacy:

1. Traditional Surrogacy: The surrogate uses her own egg, making her a biological parent. Fertilisation is typically done through artificial insemination with sperm from an intended parent or a donor. This option is available in Jersey via the ARU.
2. Gestational Surrogacy: The surrogate has no genetic link to the child. An embryo created via in vitro fertilisation (IVF) using the egg and sperm of the intended parents and/or donors is implanted in her uterus. IVF is not available in Jersey and families should use a licensed fertility clinic in the UK. However, Jersey's ARU can provide "shared care" if the surrogate is a Jersey resident.

Several attempts may be needed before a successful conception and pregnancy. The surrogate and receiving parent/s may need to decide whether to continue if the fertility treatment is not successful or if the surrogate sadly miscarries. This can be an anxious and anticipatory time for all those involved. Both the surrogate and any gamete donors, including the receiving parent/s, may require tests and medical examinations before the pregnancy can go ahead. These will check for infectious diseases or conditions that might pose additional risks.

The ARU or fertility clinic will require surrogates and the receiving parent/s to fill in consent forms for various aspects of the fertility treatment. [1] These are important to record the intentions regarding embryo creation and the intended parents of the child. Parents should take great care to fill out the consent forms accurately, as any errors may have implications for their legal parental status. Parents should keep their own copy of the consent forms.

It may be advisable to consider having life insurance, medical insurance, or travel insurance in place for the surrogate and/or receiving parent/s. This may be particularly important if the surrogacy involves travelling for fertility treatment or the birth, as access to free medical care may depend on residency status and differs across jurisdictions.

Surrogacy Agreements

Before commencing a surrogacy arrangement, it is important to have a detailed surrogacy agreement in place. This is a statement about how the arrangement will work and the commitment that each party is making to each other. It is drawn up between the receiving parents and the surrogate, who are advised to seek independent legal advice and/or support from a surrogacy organisation. The surrogacy agreement is not a legally binding or enforceable document. It is still important to have one to set the expectations of each party and to ensure mutual understanding. It can be a valuable tool to enable open and transparent discussion if any disputes arise or in the case of unexpected events. Once the receiving parent/s, surrogate, and their family are happy with the surrogacy agreement, it is usually written up and signed by everyone involved, so that each party can keep their own copy. The Royal Court in Jersey will require a signed original or certified copy of the surrogacy agreement as evidence to support the granting of a Parental Order.

A surrogacy agreement might cover the following:

• the actions of an agent or clinic;

• details of the surrogate, the receiving parent/s, and their families;

• the intentions of the surrogate to have the child for the receiving parents;

• pre-conception arrangements and details of fertility treatment;

• pregnancy arrangements, such as health and wellbeing of the surrogate, who will attend ante-natal appointments, and contact with the receiving parent/s during the pregnancy;

• birth and post-birth arrangements;

• unplanned events, such as miscarriage, medical issues, or breakdown of relationships, and how these scenarios might be managed;

• arrangements for the hand over and care of the child with the receiving parent/s after birth;

• communication and future relationships;

• legal support and Parental Order application arrangements;

• financial details, such as reasonable expenses and costs associated with the pregnancy and how these will be paid; and

• whether there will be continuing contact with the surrogate and if the child will be told about the surrogate.

It is important to consider getting specialist legal advice before entering or drawing up a surrogacy agreement. The receiving parent/s or surrogate may wish to change their wills to protect the child and any other children in the event of a death. This might include appointing appropriate guardians or stating their wishes in relation to inheritance.

The Family Division of the Royal Court are unable to provide legal advice or advice on surrogacy agreements. However, they can support the application process for Parental Orders when a child is born.

Reasonable Financial Payments to a Surrogate

Surrogacy is not eligible for funding in Jersey. Surrogacy can be expensive, and it is important that the receiving parent/s plan for the high costs associated with surrogacy. The surrogate should receive payment for reasonable expenses associated with the pregnancy. Expected financial details and costs should be included in the surrogacy agreement.

The guiding principle of altruistic surrogacy is that the surrogate should not be left financially worse off. Likewise, the surrogate should not be put under undue pressure because of large payments made for services, such as carrying the child or handing the child over. The surrogate should only receive payment for reasonable expenses that would be incurred as the result of a normal pregnancy, and any costs associated with the surrogacy, such as travelling for fertility treatment.

A detailed record of expenses and payments should be kept. The Royal Court will scrutinise payments before a Parental Order is granted. This is to ensure that no payments or benefits, other than reasonable expenses, have been paid to the surrogate. Records may include the planned expenses detailed in the surrogacy agreement, supported by bank statements, payment records, invoices, and receipts. For example, this may include invoices for medical treatment / fertility clinics or accommodation receipts from travel associated with that medical treatment. Regardless of the expenses paid, the Royal Court's paramount consideration when deciding to grant a Parental Order will be the child's welfare throughout their lifetime.

Every family is different, but in general reasonable expenses might cover:

• any loss of earnings for the surrogate and her spouse or partner, such as the difference between the surrogate's usual earnings and maternity pay or time taken off by family members to care for the surrogate;

• additional costs associated with the pregnancy, such as cleaners, childcare, food supplements, or maternity clothes;

• medical expenses, such as implications counselling, tests, GP appointments, and the cost of fertility treatments;

• any travel and accommodation costs associated with setting up the surrogacy agreement, fertility treatment, pregnancy, or birth;

• legal costs, such as setting up the surrogacy agreement, legal advice and representation, and fees associated with the Parental Order;

• life insurance, critical illness insurance, or medical insurance for the surrogate;

• other incidental expenses related to the treatment and pregnancy; and

• a modest recovery holiday for the surrogate and her family and/or a modest sentimental gift.

Payments which are not permitted, and may constitute commercial surrogacy, would include:

• compensatory payments;

• gestational services, such payments for carrying the child;

• general living expenses;

• payment for consent or the transfer of legal parentage and parental responsibility; or

• payments for handing over the child.

Maternity Staff and Health Care Treatment

Healthcare staff should be informed about the surrogacy. The maternity team will meet with the surrogate separately, and then with the receiving parents, to ensure all wishes are discussed and that everyone is aware of the plan. Any treatment or care plans involving the receiving parent/s should be discussed. This may include the birth plan, recording the wishes about how the surrogate and the receiving parent/s would like to be treated during the pregnancy and birth, so that healthcare staff can follow this wherever possible. The surrogacy agreement might be shared with the maternity staff to help guide the care of the surrogate, the receiving parent/s, and the child. Post-birth plans regarding the care of the child and discharge from hospital should also be discussed with the maternity team. A further meeting should be arranged in the third trimester with the lead midwife, named midwife, and consultant obstetrician (if required) to discuss birth preferences.

The healthcare professionals' duty of care is to the surrogate and the child. The surrogate's wishes and welfare will take priority, as she is the patient receiving care. The surrogate's self-determination and autonomy should be supported. Maternity staff should ensure that the surrogate has given her consent to any aspect of her care.

A surrogate is recognised as a child's legal parent at the time of their birth because she gave birth to the child. This is regardless of the type of surrogacy arrangement or genetic connection to the receiving parent/s. However, one of the receiving parents, such as a father who provided sperm, may be a child's legal parent at birth.

The receiving parent/s should receive sensitive and supportive care and should be involved in  decisions  where  it  is  appropriate to  do  so. This  may  include  discussions  that  have implications for the baby's care and welfare. The receiving parent/s should be given all the support that other new parents receive in terms of advice for early care and bonding. The receiving parent/s may not yet have parental responsibility for the child, so the consent of the surrogate is needed for any medical decisions that the receiving parent/s make concerning the child.

Usually, there is an agreement that the surrogate's healthcare details will be shared with the receiving parent/s. However, since the surrogate has a right to confidentiality and health information is special category data under the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018, care should be taken to understand what information may be shared. Any agreements to share information should be recorded.

Discharge from hospital should be agreed between maternity, the surrogate, and the receiving parent/s. Separate plans may be required for when the receiving parent/s can take the child home, and when the surrogate will be discharged. The surrogate remains a legal parent of the child with parental responsibility until a Parental Order is granted. If there is any dispute, the surrogate's wishes should be followed, and any challenges should be decided by the Courts. The written consent of the surrogate should be provided and recorded in medical notes if the child is discharged independently with the receiving parent/s. If staff have any concerns about welfare, they should follow standard procedures for making a risk assessment, involving other appropriate agencies, including Children's Services.

Aftercare in the community will be provided separately to the surrogate and the child. The surrogate and the receiving parent/s should ensure that health staff and their GP are aware of the surrogacy arrangement and who is caring for the baby, so that appropriate health care can be arranged. The receiving parents should receive visits from the community midwifery team and the health visitor to provide them with support and advice for caring for their new baby. The surrogate should also be visited by community midwifery team and will then be discharged to the health visitors. The surrogate should book a 6-week post-natal check directly with their GP. Until a Parental Order is granted, it is important the surrogate and receiving parents discuss decision-making for the baby in an emergency.

Birth Registration

The law requires a birth of a child in Jersey to be registered. The surrogate should book an appointment and attend the Office of the Superintendent Registrar to register the birth of the child within 21 days of the birth. The surrogate must be registered as the birth mother of the child. They should attend with any father or second parent to be registered on the child's birth certificate. Parents should notify the registrar of the fact that the child was born via surrogacy, and that the receiving parent/s will be applying for a Parental Order.

At the age of eighteen, the child will be able to able to apply to obtain a copy of their birth certificate and Parental Order documentation. The child will also be able to apply for searches of registers if they are intending to marry or form a civil partnership.

Parental Order Applications

After the child is born, the receiving parent/s should send their application to the Family Division of the Royal Court for a Parental Order to be granted.

At birth, the surrogate is legally recognised as the child's parent. To transfer legal parenthood, an application for a Parental Order must be made within six months of the child's birth. Delays in applying or issues such as withheld consent can affect the child's legal status and practical care arrangements until the Order is granted. This may limit the ability of the receiving parent/s to make important decisions for the child. Obtaining a Parental Order is essential to ensure that the receiving parent/s are legally recognised and can exercise full parental responsibility. This includes making key decisions about the child's upbringing, such as education, healthcare, and other welfare matters. A Parental Order permanently extinguishes the surrogate's parental status and parental responsibility.

When a Parental Order is made, the child is legally considered to be the child only of the receiving parent/s named in the Order, and not of any other individuals.

After the Royal Court has granted a Parental Order, the Superintendent Registrar will register this and provide a Parental Order certificate to the receiving parent/s. This will become the primary document evidencing legal parenthood. The child's original birth record will be sealed. The original birth certificate will no longer be valid and will be retained.

A number of conditions should be met for the granting of a Jersey Parental Order:

• the child must be born to a surrogate, who is not an applicant for the Parental Order, and conceived via relevant fertility treatment, such as IVF or artificial insemination (or assisted reproduction);

• the child must be born and have their birth registered in Jersey; [2]

• the gametes of at least one receiving parent must be used; [3]

• the application for the Parental Order must be made within 6 months of the child's birth;

• the child must be living with the receiving parent/s;

• the applicant/s should be over eighteen;

• joint applicants must be married, in civil partnership, or enduring family relationship;

• the applicant/s should be domiciled in Jersey; and

• no other Parental Order should be in force in relation to the child.

It is important that consent to grant the Parental Order is received from the surrogate and any other parent of the child who is not an applicant. The surrogate cannot give consent until 6 weeks after the birth. Consent should be given to the receiving parent/s via a completed copy of Form PO2, for inclusion with the Parental Order application.

The Royal Court would ordinarily expect consent to be readily forthcoming from the surrogate, freely and unconditionally given with full understanding. In very exceptional circumstances, consent can be dispensed with by the Royal Court if the surrogate or other parent cannot be found or is incapable of giving agreement. Consent might also be dispensed with if the surrogate is unreasonably withholding agreement, or the welfare of the child justifies the making of the Order without consent. In these very rare cases, the applicant should provide a signed "statement of facts," setting out a summary of the facts and the reasons why they are asking the Royal Court to consider dispensing with consent. [4] Although withholding consent without reason can be overruled, this is subject to Royal Court's discretion and introduces significant uncertainty. Dispensation will only be given in genuinely exceptional circumstances.

The Royal Court should also be satisfied that no money or other benefit, other than reasonable expenses for the pregnancy, has been given or received unless authorised by the Royal Court. Payments for handing the child over to the receiving parent/s, the making of the Parental Order, or the giving of consent are not permitted. Regardless of expenses, primary consideration will be given to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child when granting a Parental Order.

Parental Order applications should include:

• Application Form PO1;

• the signed original or a certified copy of the surrogacy agreement;

• the original or a certified copy of the child's birth certificate;

• the original or a certified copy of the applicants' marriage or civil partnership certificate, if applicable;

• the original or a certified copy of the applicant's or applicants' birth certificate;

• the original or a certified copy of the applicant's deed poll, if applicable;

• the original signed copy of Form PO2, where the surrogate and respondents provide consent for the Parental Order to be granted; [5]

• additional copies of the application form and supporting documents for service on respondents (including the surrogate, any person with parental responsibility, and any person the Court may deem necessary.);

• record of reasonable expenses paid (including receipts, invoices, and bank statements);

• any notarised and certified translation of documents that are not in English;

• If applicable, any Court Orders or Care Orders and related documents from other Court proceedings involving the child, another child of the family, or person involved in the child's care; and

• the prescribed fee.

Guardian ad Litem: Jersey Family Court Advisory Service

The Court will usually appoint an officer from the Jersey Family Court Advisory Service (JFCAS) to function as a Guardian ad Litem to safeguard the interests of the child and ensure their welfare before a Parental Order is granted. This provides valuable consideration of the best interests of the child. [6]

The Guardian will arrange to meet with the receiving parent/s to ascertain details about the family, their accommodation and means, if they have any serious illnesses, and if they understand the nature of the Parental Order. The Guardian will assess if the receiving parent/s are responsible and can be recommended without reservations for the granting of the Parental Order. [7]

The Guardian will arrange a meeting with the surrogate and any other parents to ascertain whether their consent has been freely given. The Guardian will ask about when the child's care was transferred to the receiving parent/s and ensure that no renumeration was received except for reasonable expenses.

After conducting these checks and assurances, the Guardian will make a confidential report to the Royal Court regarding the making of the Parental Order. The Guardian is there to consider the child's welfare.

Granting a Parental Order

The Court will notify the receiving parent/s of the hearing date for the Parental Order. The Royal Court will hear new applications for Parental Orders. The receiving parent/s should serve notice of the hearing date to the surrogate, any other parent, and any other person who the Court directs. The surrogate may wish to attend the hearing and respond as to whether a Parental Order should be made. The receiving parent/s should attend the hearing in person. [8]At all stages the child's welfare throughout the child's lifetime should be the paramount consideration in determining legal parentage.

After a Parental Order is granted, the Greffier will direct the Superintendent Registrar to enter it into the Register for Parental Orders. The Superintendent Registrar will then send a copy of the Parental Order certificate to the receiving parent/s. The receiving parent/s should contact the Office of the Superintendent Registrar to organise copies of the certificate. This will become the child's primary registration document to evidence their legal parent status. The child's birth certificate will be sealed. The original birth certificate will no longer be valid and will be retained.

After the Parental Order is granted, the child will gain their domicile of dependence from the receiving parent whose gametes were used in the child's conception. If the gametes of both receiving parents were used in the child's conception and the parents were married or civil partners at the time of the child's birth, the child will have the male receiving parent's domicile of dependence. If the receiving parents are not in a legal union, the child will have the female receiving parent's domicile of dependence.

If the Royal Court refuses to grant the Parental Order, independent legal advice should be sought promptly so that the receiving parent/s understand the next steps they should take.

Any applications for corrections or amendments to the Parental Order, such as the child's name, should be directed to the Family Division of the Royal Court.

After the age of eighteen, a child subject to a Parental Order may apply to the Royal Court for the disclosure of their records. This is important to ensure that the child can access information concerning their identity and origins. Where appropriate, parents should be encouraged to be open and honest with their child about their birth via surrogacy, and to consider an ongoing relationship with the surrogate if she wishes.

Recognition Orders

A separate process applies to the recognition of Parental Orders granted under the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 or the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (UK HFEA) in respect of Jersey-born children, where the Orders were made before the commencement of the Children and Civil Status Law. Recognition Orders ensure that the legal parental status of the parent/s is properly recognised under Jersey Law. This impacts a small number of families who should contact the Family Division of the Royal Court regarding the application process for a Recognition Order. Parents should also provide all the original documentation from the Parental Order granted under the UK HFEA.

The Family Division of the Royal Court cannot give legal advice on the merits of an application but are able to support the application process.

Parental Leave and Benefits

The Jersey surrogate, if she meets the relevant contribution conditions, will be entitled to 6- weeks parental leave and parental allowance directly after the birth as recovery time. The receiving parent/s should agree how any additional costs associated with recovery will be covered.

The receiving parent/s whose child is subject to a Jersey Parental Order (or equivalent, such as a UK Parental Order, if their child is born overseas) will be entitled to parental leave, parental allowance, and the one-off parental grant to cover costs associated with the child being born, if they meet the relevant contribution conditions.

Any queries about eligibility for parental benefits should be directed to Employment, Social Security, and Housing.

Post-Birth Support

Once a Parental Order is granted, the receiving parents and child will have the same post- birth psychological and social care guidance as all children born to biological parents. There are no structured care routes or plans for receiving parents and children, as they will be treated in law for all purposes as the children of receiving parents. Children subject to Parental Orders will not receive any ongoing contact with Children's Social Care Services unless there is a specific requirement.

If a child born via surrogacy has specific psychological needs, they should be referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), who will provide support appropriate for the child's individual mental health needs and emotional wellbeing.

The Children and Families Hub team can provide advice and support to families. This can include working with families directly and coordinating with other children and family organisations to provide the right help at the right time.

Inter-country Surrogacy

Inter-country surrogacy arrangements can be legally and practically complex. Prospective parents are advised to consider the implications carefully before proceeding, particularly where the  arrangement takes  place  outside the  UK. Inter-country  surrogacy  may  have significant implications for the child's British nationality, the legal parental status of the receiving parents, and immigration or entry clearance requirements, as legal frameworks vary considerably between jurisdictions. It is essential that parents seek specialist legal advice both in Jersey and in the jurisdiction where the surrogacy takes place. Receiving parents entering into an inter-country surrogacy agreement are responsible for meeting the laws and requirements in their country of residence, the country the child is born in, and any other country involved in the surrogacy process.

Parents should also be aware that inter-country surrogacy may involve additional costs. These may include travel and accommodation expenses, legal and administrative fees, and the cost of translation or document authentication services. Parents may need to plan for a lengthy stay in the country in which their child is born. This may include applying for visas, ensuring that they have the correct medical cover, and securing appropriate accommodation. It may take several months to obtain the correct legal permissions and documentation, such as British passports or visas, to allow parents to travel and bring the child back to Jersey. It is the parents' responsibility to demonstrate that they can meet requirements for visas and British passports.

British receiving parents must submit an overseas application for the child's British passport on GOV.UK. The Jersey Passport Office cannot issue a passport for a child who is overseas and will refuse any such application.

Overseas British passport applications - GOV.UK

Parents will need to ensure they have the correct immigration permissions and visas before travel. Applications for visas are submitted via the GOV.UK. Applications for Jersey are then referred to Jersey Customs and Immigration Services.

Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

Some Jersey-based parents using inter-country surrogates may be eligible to claim parental leave or parental benefits. However, this depends on whether the order granting them parent status in the other jurisdiction is recognised as equivalent to a Jersey Parental Order.

Any queries about entitlement to Jersey parental benefits should be directed to Employment, Social Security, and Housing. Parents will need to register their child as a Jersey resident:

Moving to Jersey: Register as a Jersey resident. Further Advice and Guidance

HFEA: UK fertility regulator provides helpful information about fertility treatments in the UK. IVF and embryo storage is not available in Jersey, so parents need to travel to the UK for these treatment options. Parents should make sure that the fertility clinic they use is licensed by the HFEA. The Children and Civil Status (Amendments) (Jersey) Law 2024 has been developed to work alongside the UK 2008 Act and fertility treatments provided by clinics licensed by the HFEA.

The  Surrogacy  Arrangements  Act  1985 in  the  UK  prohibits  commercial  surrogacy  and advertising by those hoping to set up a surrogacy arrangement. Instead, arrangements should be sought through the not-for-profit surrogacy organisations. Further advice may be sought from the main UK surrogacy organisations:

• Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (COTS) website

Jersey legislation is different to the UK and families should seek independent legal advice. If any disputes arise, Family Mediation Jersey may be able to help:

Family Mediation Jersey

Links to Relevant Legislation and Frameworks

• Children (Jersey) Law 2002

• Jersey Family Court Advisory Service Operating Framework

Contacts

[1] Examples of relevant UK forms are available on: Consent forms | HFEA. These forms relate to the storage and usage of sperm, eggs, and embryos and consent to legal parenthood.

[2] If there are medical complications meaning that the child needs to be born in the UK, the child's birth may need to be registered in the UK. It is possible to obtain a Parental Order using the process in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008; however, any Jersey family who obtained such an order would not then be able to obtain a Recognition Order (i.e. an order recognising the effect of an English Parental Order for the purposes of Jersey law). This would mean the persons named in the English Parental Order would not, simply by the fact of having the English Parental Order, be treated in Jersey law as the legal parents of the child, nor with legally recognised parental responsibility. The parents will need to enquire with Employment, Social Security, and Housing to notify them of the child's residency.

[3]  If  neither  of  the  receiving  parent/s  are  genetically  related  to  the  child,  adoption  provides  an alternative option.

[4] The Court will send the statement to the respondents (surrogate and/or other parent) and the Jersey Family Court Advisory Service.

[5] If consent is not given parents should seek legal advice and will need to provide a "statement of facts" supporting an application for the Royal Court to consider dispensing with consent.

[6] If the receiving parent wishes a specific body or other professional to be appointed as Guardian ad Litem, they must request this in the application form and provide an affidavit supporting the reason for the request. Receiving parents should seek legal advice.

[7] If the receiving parent is not ordinarily resident in Jersey the Guardian will obtain a report regarding their home and living conditions from a suitable agency in their country of residence.

[8] If the application is made jointly, the Royal Court may dispense with the attendance of one of the applicants. However, procedural advice should be sought from the Royal Court if a receiving parent cannot attend in person.