Assisted reproduction raises tricky legal issues

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Family Law on Thursday, July 9, 2015.

Couples who are unable to conceive often turn to other means of having children. Luckily, they have many options, including surrogacy, artificial insemination, and egg fertilization. However, these options can raise some complicated legal questions. Having a baby should be a positive experience. With so many difficult legal issues, a couple can very easily become overwhelmed.

If you are facing a fertility or surrogacy issue in Missouri, let us help. The Stange Law Firm, PC can work with you to navigate the legal issues. As a law firm dedicated exclusively to family law, we handle a variety of cases, including those related to fertility and surrogacy. Each case is different, but we have the experience needed to handle whatever comes our way.

Take, for example, surrogacy. In general, a surrogacy arrangement is where a fertile woman agrees to carry a pregnancy for a couple who is unable to conceive or have a baby. The surrogate mother is artificially inseminated with sperm or is impregnated with an embryo. This raises a number of questions. What rights does the surrogate mother have with regard to the baby? Who pays for costs associated with the pregnancy? One way that we can help address these questions is by drafting a surrogacy agreement. A surrogacy agreement makes it very clear what rights, if any, the surrogate mother has when the baby is born. Typically, the agreement states that the surrogate mother will have no parental rights or responsibilities and that she relinquishes the baby to the couple who signed the contract.

In addition to drafting surrogacy agreements, our attorneys can also draft and review other documents related to artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transplants. No matter what role you play in the situation, whether you are the surrogate mother, the donor, or the parent of an embryo, we will work hard to ensure that your rights and interests are protected. We also understand how difficult these types of cases are and how costly they can be, so we will work with you to find the most cost-effective solution for your needs.

To learn more about the variety of family law matters we handle, please visit our family law overview page.

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