Family Law Reform Act 1987 (No. 42 of 1987) , 15 May 1987
Annual Review of Population Law 14: 472-473
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0364-3417 PMID: 12346742 Document Number: 381246
This document summarizes major provisions of the 1987 Family Law Reform Act of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This Act amends existing law so that to the greatest extent possible the legal position of a child is the same regardless of whether the parents were married or unmarried. In determining parentage, courts may require scientific testing. In addition, new birth registration provisions are created to facilitate the recording of paternity on birth certificates. The Act also contains provisions relating to the rights and duties of parents and artificial insemination. Thus, if a married woman was artificially inseminated with her husband's permission, then the child is legally a child of that marriage and not of any other person.