Surrogacy

  • Person signing documents at a wooden table with flowers nearby, wearing a red long-sleeve shirt and wristwatches.

    Surrogacy Agreements

    A surrogacy agreement lays out the important details between intended parents and their surrogate. This includes things like responsibilities, expectations, and legal rights. It can help make sure everyone’s on the same page before the journey officially begins.

    I can help draft an agreement on behalf of intended parents, or review an agreement on behalf of a surrogate.

  • A family walking outdoors, holding their young child's hands, on a grassy path with trees and plants in the background.

    Parentage & Birth Orders

    The main legal goal in surrogacy is to make sure the intended parents are recognized as the baby’s legal parents, and the surrogate (and her spouse/partner, if any) are not. In Missouri, this is called a "parentage order," while in Kansas, we usually seek a "pre-birth order."

    Navigating the court process can be overwhelming, so that’s where I can come in and help.
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Surrogacy Explained:

  • An Intended Parent is an individual or couple who plans to become the legal parent(s) of a child born through surrogacy or assisted reproductive technology. They typically arrange the process, provide the genetic material (in some cases), and assume full parental rights and responsibilities after the child’s birth.

  • A Surrogate is a woman who carries and gives birth to a baby for someone else, known as the intended parent(s). Depending on the type of surrogacy, she may or may not have a genetic connection to the child.

  • Gestational Surrogacy involves implanting an embryo created via IVF using the intended parents’ or donors' egg and sperm. The surrogate has no genetic ties to the baby. Gestational Surrogacy is legal in both Missouri and Kansas.

    In Traditional Surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own egg and is artificially inseminated with the intended father’s or donor’s sperm, making her genetically related to the child. While legal in both Missouri and Kansas, traditional surrogacy is legally complex.

  • Compensated surrogacy involves the surrogate being paid for their time, effort, and risks in addition to covering all medical expenses. Some states have special rules surrounding compensated surrogacy.

    In altruistic surrogacy, the surrogate receives no financial compensation beyond medical and pregnancy-related expenses. It’s often arranged between close friends or family members.

  • Some people choose to work with a surrogacy agency or matching program to help guide them through the process. Full-service agencies typically support both intended parents and surrogates from the initial match all the way to the baby’s birth. Other organizations may focus only on matching or offer consulting services. Surrogacy journeys supported by an agency or program usually cost more, but they also offer more structure and guidance.

    An independent journey means the intended parents and surrogate connect without formal outside help, often through family, friends, or social media. In this case, the individuals involved manage all the details themselves. While independent journeys can be more affordable, they usually require more time, planning, and research.