Routes to ‘Parenthood’; do some have better outcomes than others?

This article considers the significance for the child of the various paths to legal and/or ‘social’ parenthood. It examines who may become a legal parent and/or obtain parental responsibility (PR) how they get there and how they may be replaced. Such means as copulation fertility treatment surrogacy adoption special guardianship local authority care and foster parenthood are considered as is the legal relationship between the parents both same- and different- gender. There is an analysis of other PR holders together with those who whilst not necessarily having legal recognition are involved in child rearing. Some relevant statistics are noted as is the historical development of the various routes.