Here’s an example of a family structure where four parents might be listed on a birth certificate in Ontario:
Scenario:
• Alex (male) and Jordan (non-binary) are a married couple.
• Taylor (female) and Morgan (female) are a married couple.
• Alex and Jordan wish to have a child and agree with Taylor and Morgan to co-parent the child together. The child is conceived using Alex’s sperm and one of Taylor’s eggs, with Morgan carrying the pregnancy as the surrogate.
Result:
• All four adults—Alex, Jordan, Taylor, and Morgan—have an equal agreement to share parenting responsibilities.
• They agree to register the child’s birth with all four of them listed as parents, each with the title they prefer:
• Alex: “Father”
• Jordan: “Parent”
• Taylor: “Mother”
• Morgan: “Parent”
This arrangement ensures that:
• All four parents have equal legal rights and responsibilities for the child.
• The child has a clear legal connection to all individuals who are actively involved in raising them.
