Finding a surrogate match in Maryland
Are you ready to expand your family with a new baby? Choose Creative Family Connections, and we can help you find the right match for you. Contact us today to learn more about our services in Maryland.
Maryland is a surrogacy-friendly state, and therefore a state you may wish to consider for your surrogacy journey. Creative Family Connections is headquartered in Maryland, so we are uniquely situated to assist you in your journey. As a surrogacy agency with a highly-skilled legal team, Creative Family Connections can guide you through every stage of the surrogacy journey.
Maryland is surrogacy-friendly. Although there is no surrogacy statute, there is case law from Maryland’s highest court that gestational surrogacy is legal in Maryland.
The first step, therefore, from your perspective as an intended parent is being matched with a gestational surrogate, who will carry the baby. The gestational surrogate does not use her eggs, so she is not biologically related to the baby. Traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate is biologically related to the baby, is uncommon in Maryland.
Maryland law can apply if either the gestational surrogate lives in Maryland or if the intended parents live in Maryland. It is important to consult with a surrogacy attorney who can create the best legal plan for a surrogacy journey. In most cases, the gestational carrier agreement will be prepared under Maryland law if a surrogate resides in Maryland. At about 15 weeks, we start initiating the process to seek the parentage court order. We will file a Consent Motion for Parentage on behalf of both the intended parent(s) and the gestational surrogate (and her spouse if applicable), asking the court to declare that the intended parents are the sole legal parents and have all the legal responsibilities for the baby or babies, and the gestational surrogate and her spouse have none. The court will also order the hospital to recognize the intended parents as the medical decision-makers with respect to the child, and will order Vital Records to issue a birth certificate after birth. It is possible for the intended parents to be listed as Parent and Parent.
From start to finish, it may take around 18 months. Timing varies depending on how long the match takes and whether a surrogate pregnancy results from the first embryo transfer or a subsequent transfer. Other factors that play into the length of the process include:
The more involved and proactive the gestational surrogate and intended parents are in completing necessary steps, the faster we can move forward. However, certain parts of the process require careful time and attention. Good things take time and cannot be rushed.
Finding the right match for a gestational surrogacy journey can play a factor in a journey’s overall success. We want both the parents and the gestational surrogate to feel comfortable and confident in their relationship. One of our mottos is that we never “force a match.” A lot goes on behind the scenes at Creative Family Connections during our pre-screening process before we are able to present a surrogate candidate to you.
The screening process and the embryo transfer may involve some travel for the gestational surrogate depending on the location of the parents’ preferred IVF clinic. During the embryo transfer, many intended parents like to attend this special day with their gestational surrogate if possible. Surrogates can go to their own preferred OBGYN for appointments during the pregnancy so long as the physician is open to including everyone in the journey. During COVID-19, doctors have become a bit more lenient about intended parents using video conferencing for appointments.
We provide high-touch support to both our intended parents and their gestational surrogate throughout the entire journey. While we are always ready to support you, our strong suit is being proactive by providing support before you even know to ask for it. Other factors to consider during the surrogacy process include:
1. MENTAL HEALTH:
We set aside funds for mental health services for the gestational surrogate according to each contract.
2. HOSPITAL BIRTH PLAN:
CFC surrogates all give birth in a hospital, and we help you create a blueprint well in advance so everyone is on the same page, including the staff at the hospital.
3. PAYMENT:
Learn about our payment options and ask us any questions before beginning the process.
Are you ready to expand your family with a new baby? Choose Creative Family Connections, and we can help you find the right match for you. Contact us today to learn more about our services in Maryland.