Assisted Reproductive Technology

California intended parents can usually still enforce a gestational surrogacy agreement—even if they separate—because courts may issue a pre-birth parentage order under Family Code § 7962. Separation, however, can create urgent disputes over consent, payment, decision-making, and parentage filings. This article explains the fastest enforcement pathways, key filings, and practical risk points in California when […]

In California, a properly executed gestational surrogacy agreement—paired with a parentage order—generally determines legal parentage even if the surrogate later wants to keep the baby. California’s statutory framework and courts strongly favor enforcing written ART agreements that meet required formalities. This article explains the fastest enforcement steps, likely court remedies, common defenses, and how to […]

Illinois law generally makes a gestational surrogacy contract enforceable even if intended parents divorce before birth, because parentage is established by statute and court order—not marital status. Divorce, however, often triggers urgent disputes about decision-making, payment obligations, and entry of parentage orders. This article explains how Illinois enforces gestational surrogacy agreements, what changes when a […]

In Los Angeles County, intended parents commonly establish legal parentage after a gestational carrier pregnancy by obtaining a California parentage order (often a pre-birth order) through Superior Court. These orders direct hospitals and Vital Records to recognize the intended parent(s) on the birth certificate instead of the gestational carrier. This article explains the LA County […]

In custody disputes, courts typically treat a parent’s reproductive choice as relevant only if it affects the child’s best interests. Judges focus on proven impacts like health, stability, and parenting capacity rather than moral objections. This article covers emerging custody fights involving pregnancy, abortion, IVF, surrogacy, and co-parent consent conflicts. When Parenting and Personal Choices […]