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UPDATE: The Equality for Every Family Act (HB2683) was signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in December 2025 and is now in effect. Bold text throughout this article reflects changes under the new law. Read the full breakdown here . Overview of the Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act Since 2005, the state of Illinois has had a surrogacy law on the books. Unlike other states, the Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act has a few requirements that are distinct and not found in oth

In Washington, surrogacy agreements are governed by specific legal requirements to ensure all the rights of parties involved. If you are an intended parent interested in growing your family via surrogacy or becoming a surrogate, you should become familiar with Washington’s requirements. In 2019, Washington enacted one of the best surrogacy laws in the country; making it a popular state for surrogacy. They recognize intended parents as the child’s parents before birth through

If you are considering surrogacy in California, it is one of the friendliest states in the United States and the first to recognize parentage through gestational surrogacy. However, before the actual embryo transfer procedure can take place with the surrogate, there are legal requirements that must be met with the surrogacy contract. California law requires the following: The parties need to have a separate independent counsel of their own choosing. The intended parents mus

Becoming a surrogate is a remarkably selfless commitment. There’s no doubt that a surrogate’s compensation is one of the most crucial factors to consider in the contract stage. Aside from compensation, there are additional expenses that need to be paid for the surrogate, and one of the most important is reimbursement for lost wages. It is important to have a clear and concise agreement in place between all parties involved. Why are Surrogates Paid Lost Wages? Typically, work

Just like California and Washington , if you are planning to be one of the New York surrogates, you have the right to take paid time off work while you are unable to work due to pregnancy under New York State's maternity leave regulations. The state also provides new parents in New York with paid leave, so Intended Parents working in New York can enjoy paid baby bonding time. The paid time off in New York includes: Pregnancy Disability Leave which arises under New York's Dis