17Additional requirements if multiple births

17 Additional requirements if multiple births

(1)  In this section –

birth sibling, of a child, means a brother or sister of the child who is born as a result of the same pregnancy as the child.

(2)  This section applies if a child has a living birth sibling.

(3)  Despite any other provision of this Act, the court may make a parentage order under which the child becomes a child of the intended parent or parents named in the order only if –

(a) the court also makes a parentage order, about each living birth sibling of the child, under which the birth sibling becomes a child of the intended parent or parents; or

(b) the court considers the order will be in the best interests of the child even if a parentage order about each living birth sibling of the child is not made as mentioned in paragraph (a) .