Under Swedish law (Parental Code, Chapter 1, Sections 1-5, Riksdagen), parentage is determined by:
(a) The birth mother, who is automatically recognized as a legal parent at birth (Chapter 1, Section 1).
(b) The biological father, who is presumed to be the legal parent if married to the mother (Chapter 1, Section 1) or if he acknowledges paternity (Chapter 1, Section 4). For unmarried couples, the father must formally acknowledge the child or establish paternity through court proceedings (Chapter 1, Section 5).
In cases of informal sperm donation (e.g., at-home artificial insemination or natural insemination), the donor may be recognized as the legal father if he acknowledges paternity or if a court establishes paternity based on biological evidence or intent to parent (Chapter 1, Section 5), particularly if he is involved in the child’s life post-birth.
Assisted Reproduction:
In Sweden, assisted reproduction is regulated under the Genetic Integrity Act (Lag om genetisk integritet, SFS 2006:351, Riksdagen). “Donor-assisted human reproduction” (DAHR) involves donated gametes used in licensed fertility clinics (Chapter 6, Section 1). Note: Informal sperm donation outside clinical settings is prohibited and considered illegal under this framework.
DAHR is permitted for heterosexual couples, same-sex couples (since 2005), and single women (since 2016). Donors must be identifiable—children can access donor information at age 18 (Chapter 6, Section 2). Anonymity was abolished in 1985, making Sweden a pioneer in this regard.
Sperm Donor Agreements:
In regulated DAHR, the donor is not a legal parent if the procedure complies with the Genetic Integrity Act (Chapter 6, Section 3). The intending parents are recognized as legal parents at birth (Chapter 1, Section 1). Note: Informal sperm donation lacks this protection—donors risk being recognized as legal parents under general paternity laws (Parental Code, Chapter 1, Section 1 or 5), especially if they acknowledge the child or are involved post-birth.
For natural insemination (NI) or informal AI, Swedish law does not provide specific exclusions for donors. A donor could be deemed the legal father if paternity is established, particularly if the mother is unmarried and the donor acknowledges the child. Courts may also intervene to establish paternity if there’s evidence of intent to parent.
Surrogacy:
Surrogacy is illegal in Sweden under the Genetic Integrity Act (Chapter 8, Section 1). Both commercial and altruistic surrogacy are prohibited, and any surrogacy agreement is void. Parentage defaults to the birth mother.
International surrogacy arrangements are not recognized, but intending parents may adopt the child post-birth if they meet adoption criteria (Parental Code, Chapter 4, Section 2). This process is complex and often requires court proceedings.
Parentage Agreements:
In regulated DAHR, parentage is formalized through consents at fertility clinics, with intending parents recognized at birth registration (Chapter 1, Section 1). Informal agreements (e.g., co-parenting or donor contracts outside DAHR) lack legal standing in Sweden. Courts may need to intervene under the Parental Code (Chapter 1, Section 5) to establish or contest paternity if disputes arise.
Informal arrangements carry significant legal risks, as Swedish law prioritizes biological parentage over intent in non-regulated settings. A donor could claim paternity, or the mother could seek child support, depending on judicial interpretation.