Under the Family Law 1990 (Articles 34-40), paternity is determined by:
(a) The birth mother, who is automatically the legal mother (Article 34).
(b) The husband of the mother at conception or birth is presumed the legal father (Article 36). Paternity outside marriage requires acknowledgment or judicial proof (Article 38).
In informal sperm donation (e.g., at-home AI or NI), donors are not explicitly released from paternity. If donation occurs outside marriage, the donor risks paternity claims if acknowledged or proven biologically via court order.
Assisted Reproduction:
Laos has no specific ART law as of 2025. Assisted reproduction is limited due to healthcare infrastructure, guided by medical ethics rather than statute. Informal sperm donation is unregulated and rare due to cultural norms.
Donors lack legal protections against paternity claims if biological ties are proven. Single women and same-sex couples have no legal access to ART; informal donation is culturally precluded.
Sperm Donor Agreements:
No legal framework exists for informal sperm donation agreements. Contracts are unenforceable under the Family Law unless formalized within marriage. Donors risk paternity if acknowledged or proven biologically.
For NI or informal AI, the donor could be deemed the legal father if paternity is established judicially (Article 38), lacking statutory protection.
Surrogacy:
Surrogacy is not regulated in Laos. The Family Law (Article 34) implies the birth mother is the legal mother by default. Surrogacy is culturally opposed and practically nonexistent.
International surrogacy arrangements are not recognized without legal proceedings.
Parentage Agreements:
Parentage is formalized through marriage and birth registration under the Family Law. Informal agreements (e.g., co-parenting or donor contracts) lack enforceability unless judicially recognized (Article 38).
Courts may establish paternity based on biology or acknowledgment, overriding informal agreements if disputes arise.