Critical Roles of a Surrogacy Lawyer

Whether you intend to be a parent or prospective surrogate, hiring a lawyer is a non-negotiable part of the surrogacy journey. Unfortunately, most people believe that working with a surrogacy agency is enough and do not bother looking for an attorney. However, you might struggle to complete a successful surrogacy by doing so. The reason is that surrogacy law is quite complex, and failure to work with a professional in the area can leave you grappling with legal consequences. Here are the critical roles of a lawyer in the surrogacy process.

Completes Your Surrogacy Contract — Perhaps one of the most critical elements of the surrogacy process is the contract. All parties involved, surrogate mother and intended parents, must protect their rights and interests for an equitable surrogacy journey. However, it is only possible with a lawyer who understands the nitty-gritty of surrogacy laws. For example, a lawyer will look at critical issues in the contract, such as compensation, expected responsibilities of the intended parents and surrogate mother, termination, and risks and liabilities of both parties. Unfortunately, a surrogacy agency might not handle such intricacies with your best interests at heart. Therefore, even if you find a surrogacy contract online, you still need the services of a good surrogacy lawyer to help you fill out the most critical sections.

Manages Expectations — As a prospective parent, excitement during surrogacy can lead to unrealistic expectations. For instance, you might believe that you have every right to be inside the delivery room since you are the intended patent. Similarly, some parents-to-be believe they have more rights than the surrogate mother immediately after birth. However, such details are matters of the law and might vary in different territories. In this regard, you must hire the services of a surrogacy lawyer to help manage your expectations. Most importantly, it helps keep a surrogate mother and intended parents on the same page, preventing unnecessary surprises.

Establishes and Protects Surrogacy Relationships — Surrogacy relationships differ significantly, and all parties involved should respect them. For instance, a surrogate and the intended parents can have a close relationship with regular contact and dialogue even after completing the surrogacy. Others take a more streamlined and business-like approach where communication stops upon completing the surrogacy process. Whichever the case, only a surrogacy lawyer can help establish and protect surrogacy relationships. If you want a close relationship with your surrogate, a lawyer will help you establish one with specific conditions. Notably, preconditions ensure that all parties understand their boundaries in the surrogacy relationship without feeling uncomfortable.

For more information, contact a family lawyer near you.

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