• Intended Parents & Surrogates • Gestational Surrogacy Agreements (Contracts) • Pre-Birth Orders (PBOs)
Our Experienced Nevada Surrogacy Attorney Can Help
Many parents who want to have children cannot due to various health complications. Luckily, modern science has given many couples the chance to have children of their own. This can be achieved using several different artificial insemination techniques (ie: In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF). If either or both parents are not able to conceive the baby themselves, then another common option that couples often turn to is surrogacy. Using this method has the potential to get emotional and ugly if the proper steps are not taken related to the surrogacy beforehand. To ensure the legality of the surrogacy process and to protect you — from a surrogate changing her mind midway through the surrogacy, for example — it is in your best interest to hire a qualified surrogacy attorney.
Our Nevada surrogacy attorney, Eric A. Stovall, can answer any questions you might have, whether it is about surrogacy definitions, contracts, costs or other related query. For three decades, Eric has made a committed career out of protecting Nevada families and helping them grow. This commitment led him to help form the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) which is an organization that is dedicated to the progression of legal practices when it comes to assistive reproduction. Since opening the doors to his Reno adoption law firm, he has successfully helped numerous families become whole by utilizing a surrogate. As a result, Eric has the experience and knowledge to help with any surrogacy case, no matter the circumstances.
Questions About Surrogacy? Call Our Reno Adoption Law Firm Today
Being a Nevada surrogacy attorney since 1987, Eric has a lot of experience helping clients add a child to their family. Conversely, he also has experience representing clients on both sides of surrogacy contracts. Representing both sides over the years has allowed Eric to build up an intricate understanding of concerns that both surrogates and intended parents often have. This experience provides him with the knowledge, resources and aptitude needed to help in any surrogacy case.
If you are considering using a surrogate — or if you are interested in becoming a surrogate — then please contact our office to set up a free consultation. During this meeting, Eric will answer all of your initial questions. He will see to it that you walk out our Reno law office knowing what your next step should be, regardless if you decide to work with Eric or not. Schedule your consultation today to take that first step towards growing a family.
What Are Common Surrogacy Matters and Concerns?
When all you want to do is form a family, it can be rather disheartening when something — or someone — comes between you and that goal. For this reason, it is important to hire a surrogacy lawyer in Nevada so you can both understand how surrogacy law works and to ensure that you and your new family are protected to the fullest extent.
Our law firm helps clients with the following types of common surrogacy matters:
- Nevada Surrogacy Laws: Nevada is currently one of the most progressive states in the country when it comes to surrogacy laws. As they are constantly changing, it helps to consult with an attorney who stays up-to-date with them before making any decisions regarding surrogacy.
- Surrogacy Contracts: Drafting the right document before entering the agreement is crucial for preserving your rights as a parent or gestational carrier. The surrogacy agreement should walk you through the process and include things like compensation, types of medical exams the surrogate must complete, any testing for the child and other legal protections for all parties. It should leave no room for interpretation. Just using a contract found on the internet is a recipe for disaster.
- Surrogacy for LGBT Couples: Both state and federal laws have specific statutes that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents. A Nevada surrogacy attorney like Eric knows all the details of these laws and can explain how they can play a part in your surrogacy case.
- Gestational Carrier Representation: After deciding to become a surrogate, you likely have an overwhelming list of questions running through your mind: Where do you begin? How do you protect yourself? The baby? Before you agree to be a gestational carrier for either a single parent or couple, it is important to understand what your rights are. This may include discussions about what kinds of compensation is legal in Nevada and what expenses the couple is responsible for. Additionally, since Nevada requires all parties, including the gestational surrogate, to have separate legal representation, you will want to find an experienced Reno surrogacy attorney to ensure that you are protected.
- Intended Parent Representation: When you trust another person to bring your child into the world, there are many legal and personal matters to consider first. It is better to get all concerns out in the open and make decisions now before you are forced to take legal action down the road. You should clearly define your parental rights way before the child is born.
- Surrogacy Costs: Nevada surrogacy laws are very specific in terms of compensation for the gestational carrier. Before starting the surrogacy process, you will want to make sure that you know and understand expected fees by consulting with a surrogacy attorney. He or she can help explain when such fees are due and what they go towards.
- Other Options: Other assisted reproductive techniques that your family may want to consider are embryo and sperm donation as well as the possibility of adoption. If you decide to be a donor, Eric can help draft egg and sperm donor contracts. Additionally, our adoption law firm can help with the adoption process as well if that is the direction you wish to go in order to grow your family.
No matter why you have chosen surrogacy, it is an important decision that will alter the makeup of your family forever. With so much at stake, ensure that the surrogacy process is completed correctly and that you — and your new family — are protected by utilizing an experienced Nevada surrogacy attorney. It is imperative that you understand what choices you have when you make a decision that carries so much weight.
What Should I Know Before Entering Into a Surrogacy Agreement?
The surrogate’s role is extremely important — and with that import often comes complication and confusion. A surrogacy law firm can help you understand the complexities of surrogate parenting from both sides of the surrogacy. When preparing the initial agreement between the legal parents and the surrogate, all parties must understand the obligations and expectations that they are each responsible for before signing.
When drafting a surrogacy agreement, some of the most important areas to discuss are:
- Health concerns. The couple can have health concerns regarding both the surrogate as well as the baby. These concerns often include diet and any relevant activities that could potentially harm the baby.
- Doctor visits and checkups
- Responsibilities for bills and payment
- Pre-birth order (PBO) process to establish percentage of the child(ren)
Soon-to-be parents (otherwise referred to as “Intended Parents”) can obtain a “pre-birth order” from a court. This will help them receive immediate physical and legal custody of the baby at the time of birth. No matter if you are the parent or the gestational carrier, an experienced surrogacy attorney should draft and review all surrogacy documents before anything is made official. Allowing one to do so will ensure the accuracy, legality and attention to detail of your surrogacy agreement. Further, an experienced Nevada surrogacy attorney will help you think of things that you might not otherwise have considered in order to ensure that you are as prepared — and protected — as possible.
Committed To Helping You
Consultation Today