The Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA) will update Massachusetts’ outdated parentage law so that it is clear, equitable, and provides legal protection for all families, including LGBTQ families.

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Why we need to update Massachusetts Parentage Law

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 (HD1842/SD1234) 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.

Recognizing all families in our laws

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.

Learn more

• Massachusetts Parentage Act Overview
• J. Shia’s parentage story
• Massachusetts Parentage Act: J’s Story (video)
• Testimony from J.S. in support of the MPA
• Protecting Children With the Massachusetts Parentage Act (video)
• Protecting Our Families (video)

If you have experience with the state’s outdated and discriminatory parentage laws, share your story and help build support for the Massachusetts Parentage Act:

The Massachusetts Parentage Act is supported by MA families and these partner organizations: