A MUM has been forced to begin adoption proceedings to gain parental responsibility for her daughter - because she is not married to her girlfriend.

Tasha Griswood, 29, of Holly Walk, Witham, gave birth to Jessie in April.

But Becky, her partner of six years, cannot be legally named Jessie’s second mother as the couple are not married.

The couple believe the law should be changed.

Becky, who changed her last name to match Tasha’s, said: “Because we weren’t married at the time of conception I can’t have parental responsibility.

“We took Jessie to register her birth and I found out I have no right to her as a parent. They only way I can is for us to get married or adopt her.”

The couple are appealing for money to pay for court fees, as Becky, 30, will have to present her case to court in September.

She said: “Even though I am her parent I have to do a step-parent adoption to get rights to her by law. I have to have a CRB check and get references, all the things I shouldn’t have to go though as she’s my child and she already lives with me. We will have to have home visits and will have to put a case forward.”

According to law, same sex couples must be in a civil partnership at the time of conception.

If this is the case the mother’s civil partner counts as “the other parent” of the child and can be recorded as such on the birth certificate.

The couple, who conceived through a donor, had been trying for three-and-a-half years before Tasha discovered she had polycystic ovaries.

Becky added: “It’s quite hard as it’s been me and Tasha the whole time.

“If it came to an important decision in her life I don’t have a say- it makes it quite upsetting.

“When we went to register her Tasha broke down in tears, it should have been an exciting day but it was an upsetting experience. The whole thing is not cheap for something that should be automatic.”

To support the couple, visit www.gofundme.com/28gm62s4