New York’s outdated and inconsistent parentage laws leave many families—especially those formed through assisted reproduction, LGBTQ families, and multi-parent families—vulnerable to legal uncertainty. These gaps can jeopardize children’s access to critical protections, including medical decision-making, custody, and inheritance rights. 

RAISE Children addresses these issues through three key reforms:  

• Modernizing the presumption of parentage: Updates outdated and stigmatizing language in New York law and shifts the focus to intent and caregiving—not just biology or marital status—bringing New York in line with a modern, child-centered framework.  
• Streamlining confirmatory adoption: Creates a simplified process for families to confirm existing parent-child relationships, eliminating unnecessary and costly requirements like home studies and background checks.  
• Providing clarity for multi-parent families: Authorizes courts to recognize more than two parents when it is in a child’s best interest, ensuring consistency and stability for families.