LET A SURROGACY LAWYER HELP SECURE YOUR FAMILY

SURROGACY LAW

iflg-international-fetility-law-group-surrogacy-law-2020

BECOMING A PARENT VIA SURROGACY IS AN EMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL JOURNEY

For those who choose traditional surrogacy or gestational surrogacy as their path to parenthood, the surrogacy process can be emotional and overwhelming. As a parent of twin boys via egg donation and surrogacy, IFLG founder Rich Vaughn understands the challenges you are facing and the rewards to come.

With an extensive nationwide network of highly qualified ART attorneys, we make sure your surrogacy agreement is in compliance with the laws in your surrogate’s state of residence and that your parental authority is legally established.

IFLG’s team of fertility law professionals will work with you to develop a customized surrogacy agreement that protects the health, privacy and legal rights of you and your family, your surrogate and her family, and your child. We guide you every step of the way—from conception to birth—negotiating tough issues such as your role during the pregnancy and birth, circumstances under which embryo reduction or termination of the pregnancy may be considered, and the surrogate’s responsibilities to you and your child.

We at IFLG consider it our greatest honor and privilege to help you create a happy, legally secure family through surrogacy. Contact us today….

Click HERE for a list of Surrogacy Resources.

SURROGACY LAW

Industry Leader

As leaders in the field of surrogacy law, we customize your surrogacy agreement to you and to the legal requirements of the state where your surrogate resides and gives birth. 

  • Draft or provide legal review of surrogate agreements

  • Draft legal clearance letters required by physicians / agencies assisting in surrogacy

  • Keep surrogacy agencies informed on your contract process and legal proceedings

  • Fund Management for your surrogacy process through a client-trust account

  • Provide Guardianship designations & Healthcare Powers of Attorney

FAQs

Surrogacy agreements are the first stage in a two-step process. The purpose of the surrogacy agreement is to allow all parties to state their intentions and their responsibilities to one another. The agreement will clearly state that the surrogate does not intend to parent any resulting child(ren) and does not wish to have physical or legal custody of any resulting child(ren). The surrogacy agreement will also define the rights and responsibilities of the intended parents.

Each state has different laws regarding surrogacy. It is important for you to be aware of not only the laws regarding surrogacy, but also the laws regarding how to establish yourself  as parent within the state where your baby will be born. International Fertility Law Group has experienced attorneys throughout the United States.

Preparing and finalizing your surrogacy agreement involves several steps. The following briefly describes the process from start to finish:

  • We’ll first send you a written attorney services agreement to review. It will explain the services we will provide and the cost. Sign and date it, and send it back to our office with your payment.
  • Once we have received your signed attorney services agreement, we’ll start work.
  • If you intend to use a surrogate, then once you have a match, and your surrogate is medically cleared to proceed, we will prepare the first draft of your surrogacy agreement and send it to you for review. Read it carefully, and call or email us with your questions, comments or suggested revisions. To avoid delay, it is a good idea for you to plan to review the agreement and contact us within two days after you receive it.
  • Next, the surrogate will receive your approved draft of the agreement for review with an attorney. If the surrogate requests any changes, we’ll review them and send you a redlined version, showing the requested changes. We will advise you accordingly, negotiate any revisions as needed, finalize the agreement, and send it out to all parties with signing instructions.
  • Once we receive signatures from all parties, we will issue a “legal clearance” letter to inform your IVF Physician that you are legally cleared to proceed with your cycle.

If you will be using an egg donor as well as a surrogate, please see our Egg Donation FAQ page for a step-by-step explanation of how egg donor agreements are prepared.

The finalization and execution of your surrogacy agreement can take three to four weeks, depending on how quickly the drafts of the agreement are reviewed and approved. We start working on the agreement once the surrogate is medically cleared, and we generally are able to produce a draft of your surrogacy agreement within three to four days of receiving the signed attorney services agreement and the necessary information regarding your match with your surrogate. We must then account for the time needed for you to review the agreement, as well as the time needed for the surrogate to review the agreement.

Most IVF physicians’ offices require a surrogacy agreement to be in place before your surrogate commences injectable medications. It is always best to have a surrogacy agreement in place as soon as possible.

We offer single-price, all-inclusive service packages, as well as reasonable hourly rates. Please call our office for further pricing information.

It is in both your and your surrogate’s best interest to have an attorney knowledgeable about surrogacy law explain the agreement.

The purpose of the surrogacy agreement is to allow each party to state their intentions and to clearly state that the surrogate DOES NOT intend to have parental rights to the child and DOES NOT wish to have physical or legal custody of the child. The second stage of the process requires a parental order, most often in court, during which any rights of the surrogate (and her husband, if she is married) are terminated and the intended parents’ parental rights are confirmed.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not biologically related to any resulting child(ren). This type of surrogacy involves eggs (from an intended mother, or an egg donor) fertilized in vitro (“in vitro fertilization,” or “IVF”).  Once fertilized, these embryos are transferred to the uterus of the surrogate.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own eggs are used to conceive the child, so she is biologically related to the resulting child(ren). The procedure used to establish the pregnancy is generally referred to as “intrauterine insemination,” or “IUI,” although IVF and embryo transfer can also be used with a traditional surrogate.

Because all of our work is completed via email, fax, phone/video conferencing, FedEx and U.S. mail, you never need to come to our office, although of course you are very welcome to visit us any time.

Overview

BECOMING A PARENT VIA SURROGACY IS AN EMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL JOURNEY

For those who choose traditional surrogacy or gestational surrogacy as their path to parenthood, the surrogacy process can be emotional and overwhelming. As a parent of twin boys via egg donation and surrogacy, IFLG founder Rich Vaughn understands the challenges you are facing and the rewards to come.

With an extensive nationwide network of highly qualified ART attorneys, we make sure your surrogacy agreement is in compliance with the laws in your surrogate’s state of residence and that your parental authority is legally established.

IFLG’s team of fertility law professionals will work with you to develop a customized surrogacy agreement that protects the health, privacy and legal rights of you and your family, your surrogate and her family, and your child. We guide you every step of the way—from conception to birth—negotiating tough issues such as your role during the pregnancy and birth, circumstances under which embryo reduction or termination of the pregnancy may be considered, and the surrogate’s responsibilities to you and your child.

We at IFLG consider it our greatest honor and privilege to help you create a happy, legally secure family through surrogacy. Contact us today….

Click HERE for a list of Surrogacy Resources.

SURROGACY LAW

Industry Leader

As leaders in the field of surrogacy law, we customize your surrogacy agreement to you and to the legal requirements of the state where your surrogate resides and gives birth. 

What We Do
  • Draft or provide legal review of surrogate agreements

  • Draft legal clearance letters required by physicians / agencies assisting in surrogacy

  • Keep surrogacy agencies informed on your contract process and legal proceedings

  • Fund Management for your surrogacy process through a client-trust account

  • Provide Guardianship designations & Healthcare Powers of Attorney

FAQs

FAQs

Surrogacy agreements are the first stage in a two-step process. The purpose of the surrogacy agreement is to allow all parties to state their intentions and their responsibilities to one another. The agreement will clearly state that the surrogate does not intend to parent any resulting child(ren) and does not wish to have physical or legal custody of any resulting child(ren). The surrogacy agreement will also define the rights and responsibilities of the intended parents.

Each state has different laws regarding surrogacy. It is important for you to be aware of not only the laws regarding surrogacy, but also the laws regarding how to establish yourself  as parent within the state where your baby will be born. International Fertility Law Group has experienced attorneys throughout the United States.

Preparing and finalizing your surrogacy agreement involves several steps. The following briefly describes the process from start to finish:

  • We’ll first send you a written attorney services agreement to review. It will explain the services we will provide and the cost. Sign and date it, and send it back to our office with your payment.
  • Once we have received your signed attorney services agreement, we’ll start work.
  • If you intend to use a surrogate, then once you have a match, and your surrogate is medically cleared to proceed, we will prepare the first draft of your surrogacy agreement and send it to you for review. Read it carefully, and call or email us with your questions, comments or suggested revisions. To avoid delay, it is a good idea for you to plan to review the agreement and contact us within two days after you receive it.
  • Next, the surrogate will receive your approved draft of the agreement for review with an attorney. If the surrogate requests any changes, we’ll review them and send you a redlined version, showing the requested changes. We will advise you accordingly, negotiate any revisions as needed, finalize the agreement, and send it out to all parties with signing instructions.
  • Once we receive signatures from all parties, we will issue a “legal clearance” letter to inform your IVF Physician that you are legally cleared to proceed with your cycle.

If you will be using an egg donor as well as a surrogate, please see our Egg Donation FAQ page for a step-by-step explanation of how egg donor agreements are prepared.

The finalization and execution of your surrogacy agreement can take three to four weeks, depending on how quickly the drafts of the agreement are reviewed and approved. We start working on the agreement once the surrogate is medically cleared, and we generally are able to produce a draft of your surrogacy agreement within three to four days of receiving the signed attorney services agreement and the necessary information regarding your match with your surrogate. We must then account for the time needed for you to review the agreement, as well as the time needed for the surrogate to review the agreement.

Most IVF physicians’ offices require a surrogacy agreement to be in place before your surrogate commences injectable medications. It is always best to have a surrogacy agreement in place as soon as possible.

We offer single-price, all-inclusive service packages, as well as reasonable hourly rates. Please call our office for further pricing information.

It is in both your and your surrogate’s best interest to have an attorney knowledgeable about surrogacy law explain the agreement.

The purpose of the surrogacy agreement is to allow each party to state their intentions and to clearly state that the surrogate DOES NOT intend to have parental rights to the child and DOES NOT wish to have physical or legal custody of the child. The second stage of the process requires a parental order, most often in court, during which any rights of the surrogate (and her husband, if she is married) are terminated and the intended parents’ parental rights are confirmed.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not biologically related to any resulting child(ren). This type of surrogacy involves eggs (from an intended mother, or an egg donor) fertilized in vitro (“in vitro fertilization,” or “IVF”).  Once fertilized, these embryos are transferred to the uterus of the surrogate.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own eggs are used to conceive the child, so she is biologically related to the resulting child(ren). The procedure used to establish the pregnancy is generally referred to as “intrauterine insemination,” or “IUI,” although IVF and embryo transfer can also be used with a traditional surrogate.

Because all of our work is completed via email, fax, phone/video conferencing, FedEx and U.S. mail, you never need to come to our office, although of course you are very welcome to visit us any time.

Peiya Wang
PEIYA WANG(王培娅)
Paralegal (律师助理)

Peiya Wang joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2015, where she manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases and provides translation services for many of IFLG’s international clients. Peiya moved to the United States in 2012 to attend Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, receiving a Master of Science degree in Global Studies and International Affairs in 2014. Peiya moved to Los Angeles in 2015, received her paralegal certification from UCLA Extension, and obtained her second Master of Science degree in Legal Studies from Loyola Law School. Peiya relocated back to her hometown, Beijing, China in 2019 and works from IFLG’s Beijing office. When away from the office, Peiya is a dragon boat paddler and a ballroom dancer, where she favors Rumbas and Cha-chas. She is fluent in Mandarin and English.

Luis Sosa
LUIS SOSA
Paralegal

Luis R. Sosa joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2016, where he enjoys pursuing his passion for family and reproductive law. While working toward his bachelor’s degree at Florida International University which he received in 2013, Luis worked as a paralegal and legal assistant for family law litigation firms in Miami and Washington, D.C. As a paralegal and case manager for IFLG, Luis, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, manages surrogacy, egg donation and other reproductive law cases. Luis has worked for IFLG in both Los Angeles as well as San Francisco, and is currently based in Dallas, Texas. In addition to spending time with husband Randy and dog Marty, Luis enjoys being outdoors and appreciating the arts.

Toni Hughes
TONI BOONE
Paralegal

After receiving her B.S. in Business Management, Toni joined IFLG to pursue her dream of working in the legal field. As a Paralegal with over 10 years of experience in the assisted reproduction technology field, Toni is our Managing Paralegal, responsible for training and managing our paralegal staff. From drafting legal documents to assisting our clients with post-birth matters, Toni embraces the challenge of learning something new in this field each day. Besides spending time with her son, Jordan, Toni enjoys exploring new things, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and serving as a Youth Advisor for “Next Generation.”

Kim
KIM LETZKUS
Paralegal

Kim has over 30 years of experience in the legal field and has worked exclusively in surrogacy and assisted reproduction law since 1999. Kim is a senior case manager responsible for managing parental establishment cases and interacting with IFLG’s Of Counsel attorneys across the country. With three children of her own, Kim understands the importance of family and finds working in this area of law a rewarding experience.

Rich Vaughn
RICHARD B. VAUGHN
Founder

Attorney Rich Vaughn combined his personal passion as a father of twin boys born via assisted reproductive technology (ART) with more than 20 years of experience in business and technology law to build International Fertility Law Group. Today IFLG is one of the most successful and best-known law firms in the world focused exclusively on fertility law, helping thousands of intended parents through empathetic listening, compassionate guidance, and unmatched legal expertise. As an advocate for reproductive freedom, Rich also contributes his knowledge and time to improving the understanding and practice of ART law, most recently as a founder of and speaker at the first Cambridge University International Surrogacy Symposium held in June 2019, as immediate past chair of the American Bar Association ART Committee, and as a popular presenter to law schools, faculty and advocacy organizations all over the world.

Elizabeth Tamayo
ELIZABETH TAMAYO
Paralegal

Elizabeth received her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University of Los Angeles. Shortly after graduating, she continued her education at the University of California, Los Angeles where she obtained her Paralegal certificate. Elizabeth is fluent in Spanish and has been in the legal field since 2009. She is excited to be a part of the IFLG Team helping families realize their dreams.

Sunny Chien
SUNNY CHIEN
Paralegal

Sunny joined IFLG as a paralegal in 2017, where she manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases for many of IFLG’s international clients. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from California State University of Los Angeles, where she graduated cum laude. Sunny is bilingual in English and Mandarin and has extensive experience as a legal assistant and paralegal at Los Angeles-area law firms. She is excited to be part of the IFLG team. In her spare time, Sunny enjoys spending time with her family and their dog, going to the beach, cooking, and being outdoors.

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OFFICES
Los Angeles

5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 645

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone:  +1 323 331 9343

Email:  info@iflg.net

Website:  www.iflg.net

New York
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

501 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1900

New York, NY 10017

Phone:  +1 844 400 2016

Email:  info@iflg.net

Website:  www.iflg.net

Molly O'Brien
MOLLY O'BRIEN
Partner

Fertility law attorney Molly O’Brien began working in the field of assisted reproduction technology (ART) in 2005, at an egg donation agency and a surrogacy agency where she became familiar with all aspects of in-vitro fertilization, egg donation and the financial aspects of surrogacy. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, Molly has drafted and negotiated surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation embryo donation agreements for hundreds of her clients all over the world.

Phoebe Sadler
PHOEBE S. SADLER
Associate

Fertility law attorney Phoebe Sadler has a background in family law and has been practicing exclusively in the area of assisted reproduction technology (ART) law since 2018.

Rubina Aslanyan
RUBINA ASLANYAN
Paralegal

Rubina has an extensive background in the legal field as a paralegal in Family Law and has worked in surrogacy and assisted reproduction law since 2012. Her area of focus is in managing and assisting clients with surrogacy, egg donation, and parental establishment cases for many of IFLG’s domestic and international clients. During her spare time, Rubina enjoys spending time with her family and dog Bella, traveling and cooking.

Alexander Espinoza
ALEXANDER ESPINOZA
Legal Assistant

Alexander joined IFLG as a legal assistant in 2019, where he manages surrogacy, egg donation and parental establishment cases. Alex is bilingual in English and Spanish and has been in the legal field for 23 years. Alex is excited to join the IFLG team and pursuing his will to help others in the reproductive law process. In his spare time he loves spending time with his family and friends, being outdoors, road trips, loves music and dancing.

Cara Stecker
CARA STECKER
Senior Paralegal

After receiving her paralegal certificate in 2005, Cara began working in assisted reproductive law. During the fifteen years Cara has worked in this field, she has gained a wide range of experience and knowledge that she uses to help better assist clients and those involved in the assisted reproductive journey. Cara’s primary roles involve managing parental establishment matters and coordination with IFLG’s Of Counsel attorney network, drafting contracts and parental establishment court documents and providing support to other team members. Cara finds great joy in being a small part of a team of caring people who help others achieve their dream of having a family. In her spare time, Cara enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, watching her children play the sports they love, and she enjoys, running, cycling and exploring the outdoors in the sun.

Stephanie Kimble
STEPHANIE KIMBLE
Paralegal

Stephanie received her BS in History and Political Thought from Concordia University Irvine in 2015 and her Paralegal Certificate from University of San Diego later that same year. She has been working as a Paralegal since 2016 in Family and Reproductive Law. She is excited to be part of International Fertility Law Group working on managing Surrogacy, Egg donation and Parental Establishment Cases.

Trish Pittman
TRISH PITTMAN
Assistant Financial Coordinator

With more than 20 years of experience in the field of accounting, Trish joined the IFLG team in 2019 as Assistant Financial Coordinator. Her client-facing focus at IFLG is to assist with all client trust accounting. Trish is the mother of two daughters and enjoys spending time teaching and learning new things from them. In her free time, she loves long walks in the park and reading suspense and mystery novels.

Katie Deaquino
KATIE DEAQUINO
Senior Paralegal

Katie is a Senior Paralegal with IFLG and has dedicated over sixteen years to the areas of surrogacy and reproductive law. She received her Paralegal Certificate from Coastline Community College and has worked with some of the top law firms in the assisted reproduction community. Katie is also a commissioned Notary Public. With IFLG, Katie manages Surrogacy, Egg Donation, and Parental Establishment cases and provides support to other IFLG team members. Katie truly enjoys helping others build their families through assisted reproduction and is thankful she has had the rewarding experience of assisting IFLG clients. Katie often spends her free time with her Husband, four young children and her bulldog “Bella”.

Elsa Jimenez
ELSA JIMENEZ
Legal Assistant

Elsa joined IFLG as a Legal Assistant in 2019, bringing more than 35 years of experience working in the legal profession (concentrating in tort and litigation matters). At IFLG she assists surrogates with their surrogacy and parental matters. The oldest of five siblings, born and raised in East Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents, Elsa loves “seeing the beauty of families forming” through assisted reproductive technology. She and her husband Carlos have four children and one grandson. Elsa enjoys jazz and ’80s music, being outdoors in nature, collecting teacups and tea pots, and spending time with her close-knit family.