Chad’s legal system is rooted in French civil law, with family law governed by the Civil Code (adopted post-independence in 1960). Parentage rules (Articles 312-334) state:
(a) The birth mother is the legal mother (Article 312).
(b) The husband at the time of birth is presumed the father (Article 314). Outside marriage, paternity must be voluntarily acknowledged or judicially established (Article 316).
For informal sperm donation (AI or NI), no specific provisions exist. A donor could be legally recognized as the father if biological paternity is proven in court (Article 316), with no donor exemptions.
Assisted Reproduction:
As of 2025, Chad has no laws regulating assisted reproductive technology (ART). Medical infrastructure is minimal, with basic healthcare concentrated in N’Djamena, and no evidence of clinical ART services.
Informal sperm donation is unregulated and rare, influenced by cultural norms (over 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, and traditional practices) that prioritize marital reproduction. Donors lack legal protection.
Single women face significant cultural and practical barriers to ART; same-sex couples are excluded due to the criminalization of homosexuality under Penal Code Article 361 (up to 2 years imprisonment).
Sperm Donor Agreements:
No legal framework recognizes informal sperm donation contracts. The Civil Code (Articles 314-316) overrides private agreements with statutory paternity rules.
A donor risks child support obligations if paternity is judicially established, with no statutory safeguards.
Surrogacy:
Surrogacy is unregulated in Chad. The Civil Code (Article 312) designates the birth mother as the legal mother, implying no recognition for surrogacy arrangements.
Cultural resistance (Islamic and Christian values) and limited healthcare capacity make surrogacy practically nonexistent; international agreements would require unlikely judicial approval.
Parentage Agreements:
Parentage is formalized via marriage or judicial processes under the Civil Code (Articles 314-316). Informal agreements are unenforceable without court validation.
Courts, where operational, prioritize biological ties and child welfare over donor intent, though judicial access is limited outside urban areas.