Jennifer provides independent legal representation for Gestational Carriers in Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia.
Jennifer has represented numerous Gestational Carriers over the years and is experienced at review, negotiation and preparation of legal agreements and other necessary documents on behalf of Gestational Surrogates. If you are working with a surrogacy matching program, you are entitled to an attorney to represent your interests in the process. Jennifer provides independent legal representation during the process. As a Gestational Carrier, you should speak with an attorney prior to signing up with a matching program and if you are later matched, the attorney can continue to represent you in the negotiation of your legal contract, the birth order process and to assist in answering questions during the pregnancy. Jennifer has over 17 years experience representing gestational carriers who work with other local attorneys and matching programs as well as out of state programs. The choice to become a gestational carrier or a surrogate requires serious thought, commitment of time, energy, and emotion. To become a gestational carrier or a surrogate, there are initial screenings, interviews as well as medical and psychological testing. A Gestational Carrier has a right to speak to an attorney prior to the process getting underway and should request one from the matching program. Ethical programs who utilize best practices will refer you to an attorney who advise you. In these cases, the program or Intended Parents should offer to cover the fee for the initial consult.
The Gestational Carrier Agreement should address the following issues: parental rights, custody, location of delivery, choice of law, future contact, health insurance, medical decisions, payment of medical bills, liability for medical insurance and complications, compensation (if allowed), lost wages (if allowed), legal fees, child care, housekeeping, maternity clothes, life insurance, information about medical history, doctors visits and the participartion of the parties thorughout the process.
If you are interested in becoming a Gestational Carrier, complete the contact request form. Jennifer offers phone consultations and will review with you the legal options to be a Gestational Carrier in the State of Maryland, District of Columiba or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jennifer can assist you in how to locate an ethical matching program or Intended Parents that matches your preferences. Gestational carriers and surrogates are customarily reimbursed their reasonable medical and living expenses which range, on average between $25,000 and $35,000.
Jennifer does not "match" Gestational Carriers with Intended Parents. On occassion she will have clients looking to match with a Gestational Carrier privately and will introdcue you to them and if you decide to work with them, she will refer you to another attorney to provide the legal services for you through the process. However, primarly, Jennifer advises Gestational Carriers and continues as their attorney throughout the process.
Gestationonal Carriers usually must meet the following requirements:
- Be between 21 and 42 years of age
- Have had at least one child of her own
- Be financially stable: no food stamps or similar assistance
- Have support from her family and others close to her for the decision to be a gestational surrogate
- Enjoy being pregnant and have had healthy, normal pregnancies and deliveries in the past
- Have no serious medical problems
- Have had no pre-term deliveries before 36 weeks, unless she delivered multiples
- Be a non-smoker
- Not use illegal substances
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 35 (may need to be lower in particular IVF centers)
- Be a resident of a surrogacy-friendly state
- Have reliable transportation and be willing to travel, if necessary, for screening, matching with intended parent, and medical testing
- Be willing to undergo medical and psychological evaluations, and any spouse/significant other should be willing to undergo the same
- Have no criminal history
- Have a desire to help others create a family
