Surrogacy occurs when a woman carries a child through a pregnancy for another individual or couple. In Traditional Surrogacy, the woman not only carries the fetus but also supplies the egg to create the pregnancy. Traditional Surrogacy generally results from Artificial Insemination ("AI"). Artificial insemination can also occur when a woman uses a known sperm donor or unknown sperm donor.

Gestational Surrogacy, by contrast, is a much more recent development because it results from in vitro fertilization. A Gestational Surrogate carries the fetus during the pregnancy, but she does not provide the egg. Instead, the egg is provided by an egg donor (or, by the intended mother, in the case of a woman who cannot carry the baby for medical reasons). The egg is fertilized by the process of in vitro fertilization, then grown into an embryo, and then implanted into the gestational surrogate. In gestational surrogacy cases, your attorney will obtain a pre-birth order allowing the child's birth certificate to reflect the intended parents’ names at birth.

Maryland is a surrogacy "friendly" state. It does not have any statutes permitting, prohibiting, or regulating surrogacy. However, surrogacy is illegal in the District of Columbia.

Jennifer represents surrogates, intended parents, egg donors and sperm donors.





This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor does receipt of it or review of it constitute an attorney client relationship. You should not act on any information on this website without seeking legal counsel. If you are considering adoption, it is important for you to obtain legal representation to advise you about your particular adoption situation and to protect your legal rights.