'Our surrogacy fight to become our child's legal parents'

When Adam Frisby and Jamie Corbett returned home to the UK with their newborn daughter, they knew there was a lengthy and emotional legal process ahead.

The couple had welcomed Leven via a surrogate in America just weeks earlier - a moment they had always dreamed about.

But they now faced an agonising wait to be recognised as her legal parents back home in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Under UK law, their surrogate Krista, who is not genetically related to Leven, would be her legal parent at birth.

If the surrogate is married or in a civil partnership, their spouse or civil partner will be the child's second parent at birth, unless they did not give their permission.

"The minute we found this out, we knew we were going to try and push for change because this was crazy," said Adam, 39.

"It is quite a long process. Don't get me wrong, we'd do it 100 times over. It's a small price to pay to have Leven.

"But it is just so outdated and crazy and it's taken a little bit of a mental toll on me and Jamie at times.

"We've been in tears about it when we've been questioned in the doctors or when we tried to look at nurseries and they were asking about legal parents and it's like 'this is our daughter'."

When the couple first started dating 15 years ago, they always hoped they would be able to start a family in the future.

Adam, the co-founder of clothing brands Reasn and Deserve, said: "I think for me and Jamie, both of us grew up in a world where we didn't know two dads could ever have a family."

"It was something we always wanted, but never really thought we could."

About six years ago, the couple started researching surrogacy and decided to travel to America in 2021 to start the process where they both created embryos with an egg donor.

"It's ahead of the times in terms of the legalities and the protection, but also we just found that it is much more ethical," said Adam.

"I know people question that but for us for example, our surrogate is from an agency, she gets medically checked, she gets physically checked, she gets mentally checked.

"She has to have had a child before, she has to be of a certain income - all those things get checked.

"You're never working with what people sometimes say is a vulnerable woman, you're actually working with very empowered women, who want to help start a family.

"So that's why we particularly loved the idea of going to America."

At the end of 2024, they were matched with Krista, who the couple say they will forever be indebted too.

"She is incredible. What she has done to help us start a family is amazing," said Adam. "

Leven arrived into the world in January.

The couple then had to wait for Leven's birth certificate - where they are listed as her parents - and passport to arrive before they could travel home to the UK.

"We felt that by doing it in America and the legal protection behind it, we overrode this parental order.

"Obviously, we're her parents legally on the birth certificate in the US, so it's all great but then we found out actually later down the line, it still doesn't matter.

"The UK law overrides it and you have to go for this parental order."

The process takes about eight to 10 months in the local authority where they live - some areas take longer.

This includes visits from social workers and a high court hearing to finalise the order.

"I've already cried this morning because we've got the draft copy of the parental order through, and it lists Leven's parent as our surrogate, and not us too," said Jamie, 38.

"We know the law by now, we know how it works but when you see it in black and white, it feels a bit odd."

This has only fuelled the couple's determination to change the current legislation.

"The law's not going to change in time for Leven in any way," said Adam. "This is for future families.

"One lady, who let me share her story, had cervical cancer 10 years ago and therefore could not conceive or carry a baby.

"She had to use a surrogate, so even though genetically, it was her egg and her husband's sperm, the surrogate and her husband, who had no genetic connection, went on the birth certificate and then she had to go through all of this as well."

The couple launched a petition last weekend - it was an anxious moment as they know not everyone supports their journey to become parents.

But they have vowed to do everything they can to ensure the intended parents in surrogacy arrangements are recognised as their child's legal parents from birth.

"The government already acknowledged in 2023 it is outdated, it's not fit for purpose," said Adam.

"But in 2025, they then didn't proceed with any changes, they kind of put it to the side.

"Speaking to my lawyer, I think the truth of that is that they just don't believe it's going to win them the public vote or enough seats anywhere because not enough people agree with surrogacy and agree with families like ours.

"This was sad to hear, but it probably is a reality.

"The idea of us fighting for this as well was 'let's show that actually there is so much support for families like us in 2026 and this does need to be changed'."

Within 48 hours, the petition had more than 100,000 signatures and will now be debated in parliament.

"For Leven to look back and be sat with her two dads trying to push for this change, I just think it is so strong and she's going to be such an empowered little girl and I think that's really special," said Adam.

The BBC has reached out to the government for comment on the petition.

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