Michael Belfonte provides legal services for a variety of clients, whether they are growing their families through adoption or surrogacy. As an experienced attorney in both adoption and surrogacy, and a member of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA), Michael can provide you with the legal services required in assisted reproductive technologies:
- Legal guidance and counseling
- Drafting of legal documents and agreements
- Termination of any applicable parental rights
- Procurement of a birth certificate
Read on to learn about surrogacy and how Michael Belfonte can assist you in the surrogacy process.
What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a collaborative pregnancy in which a woman carries a child for a parent or parents. With the advancements in assisted reproductive technology over the years, surrogacy has become an increasingly common path for hopeful parents to take. If you decide to pursue surrogacy, you will then need to decide on a type of surrogacy: traditional or gestational.
Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate mother uses her own eggs, along with donor sperm or the sperm of the intended father, to begin a pregnancy. In a gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child that she carries. In these cases, the intended parents will pursue in vitro fertilization to create an embryo with the intended mother’s eggs and the sperm of the intended father or donor. Today, gestational surrogacy tends to be the more common option for families.
Some of the people who decide to pursue surrogacy include:
- Couples who have struggled to get pregnant
- Couples who cannot carry a pregnancy to term
- Same-sex couples
- Single parents
- Parents who want one or both partners to be biologically related to their child
If you decide to take the path of surrogacy to grow your family, Michael Belfonte can be a crucial partner in the process.
Surrogacy with Michael Belfonte
Michael Belfonte is located in Kansas City and specializes in Kansas and Missouri law, so his expertise and guidance will meet all the requirements for your Kansas City surrogacy. Moreover, he is a member of the AAARTA, which means that he is always up-to-date on surrogacy advancements and best practices.
An experienced attorney is necessary for several steps of the surrogacy process, which are outlined below:
Drafting Documents
Your attorney can primarily assist you by drafting your surrogacy contracts. Surrogates and intended parents should each work with their own attorney to create a contract that fits their situation and desires over the course of the process.
While some people may choose to find a legal document online, this is not recommended. Every family and surrogate has unique needs that must be addressed, and with the proper legal guidance, you can make sure your contract reflects all of those needs.
With the help of your adoption attorney, you can make sure your contract includes everything necessary, including:
- Finances
- Social agreements between the surrogate and intended parents
- Pregnancy risks and liability
- The health of the surrogate and the baby
- Agreements for emergencies or sensitive issues
By seeking the help of an adoption attorney with any documentation you need, you can make sure that it is credible and compliant with the laws of your state.
Pre-Birth Orders
A pre-birth order is a document that grants parental pre-approval to the intended parents prior to the birth of the baby. When a pre-birth order is established, the intended parents will be the child’s legal parents when the child is born, which them to leave the hospital with the baby, make any medical decisions for him or her, and have their names listed on his or her birth certificate.
If you pursue a pre-birth order, your attorney will assist you with compiling and submitting the necessary documents at the proper time. While the state of Kansas grants pre-birth orders, Missouri does not. Regardless of where you live, your adoption attorney will ensure that you are in compliance with your state’s laws.
Transfer of Parentage
Whether or not you establish a pre-birth order, intended parents will need to seek court approval after the baby is born. If you do not have a pre-birth order in place, you will need to appear in court at this time to receive approval. This is done in compliance with the Uniform Parentage Act and will officially complete the surrogacy process.
With an attorney, you will be able to receive guidance through this final step so that you can properly establish parentage and be legally recognized as a family.
American Surrogacy Services
In addition to his legal services, Michael frequently partners with American Surrogacy to help families reach their goals. A sister agency to American Adoptions, which was founded in 1993, American Surrogacy was created to provide services to families taking this increasingly popular path to growing their families.
If you choose to work with American Surrogacy, you can expect:
- Gestational surrogacy services – From beginning to end, American Surrogacy will be there to walk you through your gestational surrogacy.
- Surrogate matching services – American Surrogacy will work to help you find a match with one of the surrogate mothers they work with, all of whom have been extensively screened.
- Family counseling and support – The specialists at American Surrogacy are equipped to help you with the emotional side of surrogacy and make sure you are ready to begin the process.
For questions, guidance, or help getting started on your journey, contact Michael Belfonte today.