Surrogacy, Child's Welfare, and Public Policy in Adoption Applications: UKM v Attorney-General

Abstract

This case note discusses the Singapore High Court case of UKM, in which an order was granted to a gay man to adopt his biological son conceived through a gestational surrogacy arrangement in the United States. In particular, the High Court’s assessment of the welfare of the child and of public policy, in light of two factors — the prohibition of male homosexual acts in section 377A of the Penal Code and the de facto curtailment of domestic surrogacy by Singapore’s restrictive rules relating to the use of assisted reproduction technology services — will be examined.

Keywords: surrogacy, adoption