Massachusetts Parentage

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Massachusetts Parentage Act

The Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA) went into effect on January 1, 2025.

The historic new law will protect all families, including LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction.

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How can the MPA help families establish parentage?
What to know about the new law
Why it matters
Resources and support
MPA background
Family stories
Media
The coalition

Governor Healey signing the Massachusetts Parentage Act at the State House, surrounded by legislative leaders and advocates

What to know about the new law

Parentage is the legally recognized relationship between a child and parent(s). The Massachusetts Parentage Act updates the state’s parentage law so that it is clear, equitable, and provides legal protection for all families, including LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction.

The law clarifies who can be legally recognized as a parent and how to establish parentage. This is critical to ensuring that all children can access the security of legal parentage, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

The MPA provides that Massachusetts parents can establish their parentage in the following ways:

Giving birth (except for people acting as surrogates)
Adoption (pursuant to chapter 210)
Acknowledgment (by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage)
Adjudication (an order from a court)
Presumption (including the marital and non-marital presumption)
Genetic connection (except for sperm or egg donors)
De facto parentage
Intended parentage through assisted reproduction
Intended parentage through a surrogacy agreement

As of January 1, this law is part of Chapter 209C. Read the full law on the legislature’s website.

Why the Massachusetts Parentage Act matters

There are many paths to parenthood and many types of families in the Commonwealth. Finally, Massachusetts statutes are up-to-date with modern science and the diversity of our families.

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. The hope is that, with greater clarity, there will be better access to justice, consistency in the courts and therefore security for children in the Commonwealth.

Before the MPA, some children were not treated equally, with some having to wait six months or longer to establish their parent-child relationship, leaving children and families vulnerable.

Resources and support

Massachusetts Parentage Act FAQ
Webinar for families: What You Need to Know About the MPA and Its Protections for Your Family
Webinar for lawyers and organizations: What to Know About a New Law to Protect Families
FAQ: Voluntary Acknowledgement of Parentage
LGBTQ Paths to Parentage Security
Resources for New England Parents
For additional support, contact GLAD Law Answers

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Massachusetts Parentage Act background

The Massachusetts Parentage Act was supported by a strong coalition of parents, families, and more than 60 organizations. The MPA Coalition worked for many years to provide testimony to legislators, educate community members, share stories, and work collaboratively for this change. Coalition members remain involved in implementation, working with various agencies to draft new forms and helping lawyers and community members understand the new law.

The law’s bipartisan sponsors included Senators Julian Cyr (D) and Bruce Tarr (R), Representatives Sarah Peake (D), Hannah Kane (R), and Kay Khan (D). In July 2024, the House and Senate voted unanimously to pass the MPA, and Governor Healey signed it into law in August.

Check out the full list of supporters.