Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Letters

Multi-parent families need a legal framework

A girl holds hands with a man and woman
Four parents can be better than two for some families, argues Dominic Kraemer. Photograph: Prostock-studio/Alamy

In the Netherlands, multi-parent families like the one Eleanor Margolis is hoping to start (Could four of us having a baby together be the answer to parental burnout? I’m hoping to find out, 27 July) are becoming more and more common, and the Dutch government has considered legislation to recognise up to four legal parents. This would give them the legal structure they so desperately need.

My husband and I are hoping to co-parent with another couple after witnessing how beneficial it can be, both for the parents and for their children. And it’s not just queer couples who are noticing the benefits. We know heterosexual couples who are looking to start families with more than two parents, not only with the aim of avoiding parental burnout, but also for financial or environmental reasons.
Dominic Kraemer
Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.