Having children through a surrogate is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States. Florida is one of the few states that officially recognizes contracts for gestational and traditional surrogacy arrangements, as well as egg and sperm donations. Since Florida laws protect the rights of the intended parents, meaning the surrogate, the baby, and the egg donor, Florida is chosen by many as an ideal place for expanding their families via surrogacy. Florida law requires that a surrogacy agreement be signed to enter a binding contract. These matters are technical and require an attorney with experience to anticipate and resolve the host of issues facing couples who seek to create families in this way. It is imperative that the rights and obligations of all parties in the contract be spelled out clearly for their protection in the event that complications arise.
Have you determined that surrogacy is the best option for you? Get in touch with our surrogacy attorneys in Boca Raton for clarity on what to do next. Call 561-353-2800 or contact us online.
Traditional surrogacy— the surrogate uses her own egg, which is commonly fertilized through artificial insemination with the sperm of the intended father or a donor. If the procedure results in a pregnancy, she will carry the infant until the time of delivery. This is referred to as “Preplanned Adoption” by Florida Statute 63.213, and the surrogate has 48 hours after she gives birth where she may repeal her consent to surrender the child. In most states, this kind of surrogacy is riskier for the intended parents because the woman giving birth has a genetic link to the child. However, Florida law explicitly provides the opportunity for contracts that terminate the rights of the birth mother and gives legal custody and control of the child to the intended parents.
Gestational surrogacy— this method offers intended parents a higher level of legal and emotional security. During this process, the carrier does not use any of her own genetic material to produce the baby. The sperm and egg are either from a donor or the intended parents. If the procedure results in a pregnancy, she will carry the infant until the time of delivery. Because of the legal provisions under Florida Statute 742.15, parents can be sure that the surrogate mother has no legal connection to the child through a surrogate contract. This kind of statutory protection is absent in most other states in the nation.
Surrogacy law is a growing area with complex legal issues. Scientific advances in the field of assisted reproduction keeps arrangements evolving at a rapid pace. If you are a party in an arrangement, or considering a surrogate pregnancy, you need qualified legal counsel. The Boca Raton-based surrogacy attorneys at Klein Law Group can protect your rights and anticipate and address potential problems.
We create a comprehensive agreement for the intended parents that is crystal clear to avoid any roadblocks in the process. This eliminates any confusion on their part. The contract addresses all potential risks and probable events so that the intended parents feel confident about the birth plan. All parties involved will understand their roles and their rights to alleviate any concerns that may emerge along the process.
Our attorneys at Klein Law Group ensure that the birth mothers rights are protected. We make sure that surrogates know about any possible medical risks and assure them that their participation will be fairly and legally compensated. We not only negotiate benefits for the surrogate, but also for their spouse and children.
The surrogacy attorneys at Klein Law Group guide you through the process:
In order to have an enforceable gestational surrogacy contract in the state of Florida, the following must be met under Florida Statutes 742.15 and 742.16:
Call our Boca Raton surrogacy attorneys today at 561-353-2800.