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Surrogacy and Egg Donation Q and A


Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A
  • Q & A: Legal/Contract Issues - Surrogacy

    Topics may include contracts, legal fees, establishing parental rights, etc.

    4. I am a surrogate in an AI arrangement with a wonderful couple. We are now trying to work out the details of when the baby is born - I am currently 4 months' pregnant. After talking with the probate court here that handles adoptions, I feel that I'm getting nowhere fast. I really do not want to go to/through a lawyer. Have you any resources or sites where I could get specific information about giving up parental rights and then adoption by the step mom? I am in Ohio. The baby will be born in Ohio. The IPs are from VA. The probate court here wants me to register the surrogacy first, though the magistrate made it seem that it was not absolutely necessary. She also told me that the step mom needs to wait 6 months before she can adopt.

    Whatever help/advice you can offer would be most appreciated. I hope I didn't get in over my head. I thought it would be easier than this (as I was led to believe) - a simple court appearance asking that my maternal rights be rescinded, and then the IPs would deal with the adoption in their home state. Is this the case? Is it this easy? Help! -
    Blue in OH - Top

    Dear Blue,

    Unfortunately OH has really rough laws for surrogacy and adoption. I have heard a lot of atty's just cringe when dealing with them.

    Sorry on this one.... You're going to have to consult an atty. I know an SM in OH that can offer you some advice. Her email is Ozma@surromomsonline.com

    Good Luck
    Jennifer
    EDD 09/09/00 with Ben
    Mom to Matt, Jon and Nick
    TS Scarlett 6/11/98
    second surrogacy 08-2001




    Blue,

    Have the IP's talk to an attorney in their state about step parent adoptions and have them explain that the baby will be born in Ohio. Talk to
    an adoption attorney there in Ohio to find out what needs to be done. It may cost 200.00 but it will be well worth it. Even if the IM has to wait 6 months to adopt the baby the IPs should be able to take the baby home with them from the hospital with paper work drawn up by an adoption attorney. A step parent adoption is relatively easy when everyone lives in the same state but it gets more complicated when people live in different states.
    Also state laws vary so what is very easy in one state may be very complicated in another. Go see an attorney, trust me it is the best thing you can do for yourself and your IPs. That way you will know what is required of all of you.

    Good luck and congradulations on being pregnant.

    Lynn - Updated: March 14, 2000


  • Unless stated otherwise, all responses in the SMO Q&A are courtesy of one or more of the following hosts:
    • Sherry - Experienced gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement
    • Linda - New Mommy to twins born via gestational surrogacy and egg donation
    • Jennifer S. - Experienced AI surrogate
    • Lynn - New Mommy to a daughter born via traditional surrogacy
    • Tracie - 5 time egg donor (triplets, 2 sets of twins and 2 singletons) and 3 time surrogate (2-AI, 1-IVF).
    • Lisa - Experienced egg donor and previous gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement (Lisa was our former ED host, prior to July 1999.)
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