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Massachusetts Parentage

The Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA) will update Massachusetts’ outdated parentage law so that it is clear, equitable, and provides legal protection for all families, including LGBTQ+ families.

TAKE ACTION: Urge your legislators to co-sponsor the bill

 

This is the year to pass the Massachusetts Parentage Act.

 

Who supports the MPA

The Massachusetts Parentage Act is widely supported by local families and these state officials, associations, and partner organizations:

Check out the full list of supporters.


Supporters of the MPA Coalition

 

Get involved and take action

 

Why we need to update Massachusetts parentage law

Read MPA fact sheet

There are many paths to parenthood and many types of families in the Commonwealth, but Massachusetts statutes have not kept pace with modern science and the diversity of our families, leaving children vulnerable.

The Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA) updates Massachusetts statutes to clarify who can be a parent and how to establish parentage. This bill is critical to ensuring that all children can access the security of legal parentage, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

This bill is based on the Uniform Parentage Act, which serves as a uniform framework for ensuring the protection of the relationship between parents and children. Originally passed in 1973 to protect children born to unmarried people, the Uniform Parentage Act was most recently revised and approved in 2017. Several of our neighboring states, including Vermont and Maine, have passed similar parentage legislation. 

Learn more about the MPA and the need for updated parentage law in Massachusetts. Click here for a PDF version.

 

Recognizing all families

The MPA updates Massachusetts law so that it is constitutional, and it protects all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Among other important protections, the MPA provides clarity on how to establish parentage for children born through assisted reproduction, surrogacy, and to same-sex parents who aren’t married. As the law stands now, children are not treated equally, with some having to wait six months or longer to establish their parent-child relationship. That is too long to wait and leaves children and families vulnerable.

Massachusetts families can’t wait any longer for equal access to family protections. Love makes families, and we need our laws to protect them.

 

Family stories

(downloadable version)


J. Shia’s parentage story
(download)


Testimony from Jess (download)


Simone’s family
 (download)


Shannon’s family
 (download)


Sylvia, Jane, and baby R
 (download)

MPAC Supporters
Karen’s story
 (download)

Visit the family stories landing page

 

Media: Press coverage, blogs, and videos

Find more family stories

The MPA Coalition is made up of families, civic leaders, and partner organizations, including:

American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys

American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Office of Massachusetts Attorney General

Boston IVF Fertility Clinic

Boston Medical Center

Cape Cod Healthcare

Center for Reproductive Rights

The Children's League of Massachusetts

Circle Surrogacy

Citizens for Juvenile Justice

COLAGE

Committee for Public Counsel Services

Conceiveabilities

Csed Inc. (The Center for Surrogacy and Egg Donation)

Eastern Bank

Family Equality Council

Fenway Health/AIDS Action Committee

Fertility Within Reach

Friends of the Children

Gay Parents To Be

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)

Greater Boston Family Law American Inn of Court

Greater Boston PFLAG

Kauffman Law and Mediation

Keshet

Massachusetts Advocates for Children

Massachusetts GLBTQ Political Caucus

MA LGBTQ Bar Association

MA LGBTQ Youth Commission

MA Medical Society

MA Trans Political Coalition

Mass General Brigham

Mass PPD Fund

Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce

MassEquality

Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

Modern Family Law, Bruce Hale, Esq.

NARAL

National Association of Social Workers – MA Chapter

New England Fertility Society

New England Surrogacy

Nichols, Delisle and Lightholder

OUT MetroWest

Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts

Progressive Massachusetts

reproductive equity now

Resolve New England

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

Roxbury Youth Works

Seed Trust

UMass Memorial Health