We’ve decided to do a blog post series on navigating insurance in gestational surrogacy because it’s a recurring source of stress for many of our clients. Although (for most of us), learning the ins and outs of insurance products is not high on our list of desirable ways to spend time, obtaining even a moderate level of understanding about the way that insurance works (and helps) in a surrogacy journey can ultimately Read More
Donor-Conceived Children – Telling Your Child’s Birth Story: Why, When, and How
Colorado passed a law in June, 2022 that will take effect in 2025 in which it was determined that donor-conceived children have a right to learn the identity of their donor(s). This means that at facilities in Colorado, only donors who agree to have their identities revealed (upon request) to offspring conceived of their donations when said offspring turn 18 years old are accepted as donors. This effectively banned Read More
How Does Escrow Work in a Surrogacy Journey?
An escrow account, in general, is an account held by a third party on behalf of parties who are completing a transaction. In a surrogacy context, this is when a third party (escrow agent) is selected to hold the funds that will be provided to the gestational carrier and to disburse those funds according to the contract terms. Who is the escrow agent? Some surrogacy agencies offer internal escrow account services, Read More
What is a Gestational Surrogacy Agreement (GSA) and Why Do I Need One?
You’ve finally reached that exciting part of your journey where you’ve found a surrogate, cleared all the medical and psychological expectations, and are ready to start the transfer process! The last thing your clinic tells you that you need to do is work with an attorney to draft a gestational surrogacy agreement (GSA) (also called a gestational carrier agreement, or GCA). What is this document and why do you need Read More
Three Benefits of Hiring an ART Attorney for Your Family Building Needs
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) law is still an evolving area of law and can be scary or overwhelming for intended parents trying to start a surrogacy journey. By this point you have already gone through and done so much that having to figure out yet another step can seem like the final straw. You may want to dive right in and figure things out on your own. However, hiring an ART attorney can save you time and Read More
Here is Where to Start
ROADMAPPING YOUR FERTILITY JOURNEY I’ve had a lot of coaching calls with clients recently and a common theme has emerged. So I thought I’d blog about it! The word of the month (other than “baby boom” – as we’ve had 7 new Villagers born this month) here at Village Law Group is “PRIORITIES.” As I work with clients who are struggling with the overwhelming number of variables, twists, and turns in their family Read More
Working with Sperm Banks
For intended parents seeking donor sperm from either an anonymous or an identity options donor, most find themselves working with a sperm bank. There are many sperm banks in the United States, and like any business, they vary in size and service. Below are 20 important questions that you should ask each sperm bank. What qualifications are your donors required to meet? What do you do if a donor reports a medical or Read More
Surrogacy Journey Checklist
Your surrogacy journey will be a marathon. Not a sprint. Take good care of yourselves during this time. Rely on your village. We are here for you! Stage One -- Day One to Surrogate Match Select a medical clinic. Decide on medical procedures and timeline with your doctor. Research and select donors, if needed. Begin your search for a surrogate match. Select and engage a surrogacy agency (if planning to use Read More
Jen Shares Some Popular Thoughts and Feelings Shared by Intended Parents
Dear Intended Parents, Most intended parents are lucky if they know even one other couple in their lives who have experienced surrogacy. So other than the many professionals involved in your journey, you have very little opportunity to talk with folks who have shared a similar experience. But for someone like me, I’ve talked with hundreds, maybe even thousands, of intended parents and surrogates. So trust me when I Read More
The Finances of Surrogacy
There are so many “balls in the air” when coordinating a surrogacy journey, and one of the hardest to understand, unfortunately, is cost. Often, clients are borrowing money from a family member, taking a second mortgage or loan, or withdrawing funds from a retirement or investment account to pay for their journey. The uncertainty and inability to generate even a ballpark number for what this whole thing might cost Read More