Surrogacy in Connecticut: State by State Guide for Surrogacy
The state of Connecticut is considered a surrogacy-friendly locale thanks to state regulations, guaranteed access to reproductive health care, and top-rated IVF clinics and local hospitals. Here’s an overview on some of the considerations to keep in mind when undergoing a surrogacy journey in Connecticut. Use the information below as a starting place to deepen your understanding of things to keep in mind when considering surrogacy in the Constitution State. Nothing listed below is intended to replace advice from a qualified Assisted Reproduction attorney. It is strongly recommended that you always seek legal advice from a qualified professional before you begin a surrogacy journey.
Thanks to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-48a enacted in 2011, Connecticut expressly allows surrogacy and mandates that pre-birth orders allow non-biological Intended Parents to be listed on the birth certificate. This protects the legal rights of many Intended Parents who start or grow their families via gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy pre-birth orders however, are still prohibited, though traditional surrogacy is still practiced in Connecticut with local Assisted Reproduction attorneys in place to guide folks through this process. Remember, traditional surrogacy carries risks to both sides because of the genetic relationship between the surrogate and the child(ren). As a result, most surrogacy arrangements in Connecticut cover gestational carriers in order to make sure that all parties are protected during the process.
Surrogacy contract jurisdiction usually follows the state the surrogate lives in, though sometimes contracts follow the state the Intended Parent(s) are a resident of and/or where the embryo is transferred. Your chosen attorney can help you decide jurisdiction, however it is unethical and quite possibly illegal to insist a surrogate move to another state for the purposes of a more surrogacy-friendly legal framework.
Whether you are an intended parent looking to expand your family through surrogacy or a woman considering the possibility of becoming a surrogate, the process can be both exciting and daunting. Our self-matching service can help connect Intended Parents with surrogates, providing all parties with the ability to start a potential surrogacy journey with an agency.
Is commercial surrogacy legal in the state of Connecticut?
Absolutely. Connecticut is among the list of “surrogacy-friendly” states and is a great place to undergo a surrogacy journey.
Can you find either a surrogate or Intended Parents without a surrogacy agency in Connecticut? Can you do a successful surrogacy journey without one?
Definitely and there are tons of compelling reasons why an independent journey in Connecticut might be preferred.
Who can become an Intended Parent in Connecticut ?
Intended Parents can be married or unmarried, or any sexual orientation, or whether or not they are genetically related to the child(ren). This includes individuals who have medical issues or infertility, genetic conditions they do not wish to pass on, and individuals who have consulted with their doctor and have decided surrogacy is the right decision.
If you’ve been advised by a medical professional to consider surrogacy, Connecticut is one of the best places to explore a surrogacy journey.
Some additional things to keep in mind about surrogacy in Connecticut:
Pre-birth orders are available and usually granted. These orders establish parentage prior to birth, generally allowing both Intended Parents to be recognized as the legal parents on the birth certificate. Pre-birth orders are available to LGBTQ+, married/unmarried, and those using donor eggs or sperm.
Surrogacy contracts follow the legal requirements in Connecticut and they address compensation, how often and when payments are made to the surrogate, a detailed discussion of the risks and the personal responsibilities of each party, general expectations during the journey, and outline health and pregnancy-related protocols, including who makes medical decisions during the journey.
The transfer/medical aspect of the journey begins when everyone is in agreement and signs a contract. Many IVF clinics will want to see your signed surrogacy agreement.
To find a qualified professional who can help guide you, you can visit this attorney directory.
Becoming a Surrogate in the state of Connecticut
Decide if you qualify; we recommend you take this short quiz to find out if you meet some of the basic requirements.
Here’s some of the requirements you should be aware of when deciding to become a surrogate in Connecticut:
– While ages can vary by clinic, you should be between the ages of 21-44.
– You are willingness to follow doctor’s exact orders including taking any medication you are prescribed.
– Your finances are stable and you are not accepting any government assistance.
– No major pregnancy complications (e.g. premature labor, multiple miscarriages, gestational diabetes, postpartum depression).
– You have a history of “easy” pregnancies and have at least one child (biological) that you are raising or have raised in your household.
– You have a home that is safe that you either own or have a long-term lease.
– You maintain a healthy weight with a healthy BMI and have no significant health issues, including ones where pregnancy is a contradiction.
– You do not use drugs, are willing to abstain from alcohol and do not smoke.
If you meet all the qualifications, you’ll match with Intended Parents. Surrogacy Place offering our site users the opportunity to match via specific criteria including type of carrier (gestational or traditional), location of Intended Parents/surrogate, vaccine requirements, and more. Following the matching process, surrogates go through medical screenings with the Intended Parent(s)’ Reproductive Endocrinologist and contracts are drafted. Then, an embryo will be transferred and a with good luck, a pregnancy will result!
Visit the Surrogacy Place guide for a step-by-step overview on the process.
Want more information on the process of becoming a surrogate in Connecticut? Read this overview.
For a detailed breakdown of typical surrogacy costs, please refer to our “How Much Does Surrogacy Generally Cost” guide.
Finding your surrogate in Connecticut
The Surrogacy Place searchable database facilitates connections between surrogates and Intended Parents based on their individual preferences and requirements. Whether you’re searching for a gestational or traditional carrier in Connecticut or elsewhere, we provide location-based search tools to assist you. Surrogacy Place’s surrogacy matching site for independent journeys is always free for surrogates. Intended Parents pay a small subscription fee. Create an account as a surrogate or Intended Parent to get started.
Let’s talk about some of the advantages of doing your independent surrogacy journey in Connecticut
Intended Parents can enjoy significant cost savings when going independent, allowing for more of their available IVF budget to be allocated directly to the surrogate who deserves her full compensation without the lion’s share going to a middle man. This approach also enables custom-matching based on specific criteria such as geography, communication preferences, and reasons for pursuing surrogacy. Additionally, opting for independent surrogacy means avoiding pressure from third-party agencies who often prioritize their own financial goals over the needs of Intended Parents and surrogates and may push a bad match as a result.
It’s always important to remember that when matching independently you are responsible for your own due diligence with the help of your attorney and your doctor as your partners in approving any selected matches.
Many surrogates in Connecticut prefer to match independently. Here’s some reasons why.
Looking for surrogacy information for another state? Explore our surrogacy by state directory.
