Surrogacy and parentage
Surrogacy, donors and the order that names you as parents
A surrogacy journey has two sets of paperwork: the agreements before any medical steps, and the court order that confirms who the parents are. I draft the first and file the second.
I represent the intended parents. A surrogate has her own lawyer, whom the agreement usually lets the intended parents pay for, so each side gets advice that is only theirs.
What I draft and file
Gestational surrogacy agreements
Egg, sperm and embryo donor agreements
Pre-birth and post-birth parentage orders
Confirming a non-genetic parent by adoption
Step by step
The order things happen in
- 01
Step 1: Before you match
We cover what an agreement should say about medical decisions, expenses, contact and what happens if plans change.
- 02
Step 2: Drafting the agreement
I draft it for the intended parents, and the surrogate's own lawyer reviews it for her.
- 03
Step 3: Signing before any medical steps
The agreement is signed first and the clinic's own consents follow, so no one is asked to rely on a handshake.
- 04
Step 4: During the pregnancy
I file for a parentage order where the law allows one before birth, so the right names are ready.
- 05
Step 5: Once the baby is here
The order, the birth certificate and any follow-up steps, like adoption for a non-genetic parent.
Where the agreement and the order meet
These are the points couples most often ask about.
Donor agreements
Who the donor is to the child, in writing, before donation.
Parentage orders
A court order that names you, often wanted before the birth.
Adoption as a second layer
Some families add an adoption order as a second layer of security.
Surrogacy, answered
Do you represent the surrogate?
No. I act for the intended parents, and a surrogate should have her own lawyer. I can't advise her, and I'll say so at the start.
Does your office arrange a surrogate or an agency match?
No. I work alongside agencies and clinics, but I don't recruit or match anyone. I can suggest questions to ask them.
Is surrogacy allowed everywhere?
No. Some states welcome it, some restrict it and a few don't allow paid agreements. Where the baby will be born matters, so I check that before anything is signed.
Plan it before the first appointment
Tell me who's involved and where the baby is likely to be born. I'll explain what the agreement and the order need to cover.
Please don't send confidential details through the form.