Transforming Law’s Family: The Legal Recognition of Planned Lesbian Motherhood

In Transforming Law’s Family, Fiona Kelly explores thecomplex issues encountered by planned lesbian families as they work todefine their parental rights, roles, and family structures within thetenets of family law. While Canadian courts recognize lesbianparenthood in some circumstances, a number of issues that are largelyunique to planned lesbian families - such as the legal status ofknown sperm donors and non-biological mothers - remain undefined.Drawing on interviews with lesbian mothers, Fiona Kelly illuminates thechanging definitions of family and suggests a model for law reform thatwould enable the legal recognition of alternative forms of parentage.