In a first-of-its-kind case, a judge has declined an application for a step-parent adoption order from a non-biological parent to secure legal parentage over a surrogate child.

The applicant had previously secured parentage by way of a parental order following a surrogacy arrangement, which was later rescinded.

However, the judge found that the child’s welfare did not require her to override the surrogate’s lack of consent. 

Ins...