Blog

Macnabs today announces a trio of new appointments as it continues to strengthen its family law department. Duncan Mackinnon, Lynne Kelly and Christie Rattray have all joined the family law team at Macnabs from Lindsays in Dundee. Partner Rachael MacDonald, previously at Harper Macleod, also joined the firm earlier this year to complement the family law team.

This month sees an anniversary of significant legislation that changed the rules regarding how unmarried fathers obtain rights and responsibilities for their children. Since 4th May 2006, fathers named on their child's birth certificate have gained automatic parental responsibilities and rights (PRRs) - no matter their marital status to the child's mother. 

Surrogacy, put simply, is the concept of a woman bearing a child for another person. This process is legal in Scotland, within strict parameters. Fundamentally, surrogacy arrangements must remain altruistic. This means any surrogacy contract entered into remains unenforceable, and payment is only permitted to cover ‘reasonable expenses’ of the pregnancy. This process albeit sounds simple, however, is anything but.

With the US now giving the official stamp of approval for the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11, it might not be long before children of a similar age in the UK are offered a COVID vaccine. Currently in the UK, the COVID vaccine is being offered to children aged 12-15. The vaccine is not mandatory, and parents who have parental responsibilities and rights will be asked to give their consent to the vaccine. But what happens if parents disagree about how best to protect their children against the virus?