Episode 13: What a Lawyer Does In a Surrogacy Journey

Today’s special guest on The Family Circle podcast is Dean Hutchison, Vice President of Legal Services at Circle Surrogacy and the Immediate Past Chairman of the American Bar Association's Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology Law. Dean offers his perspective on why one might need a lawyer for surrogacy and the legal aspects of it that are important for both intended parents and surrogates to understand. He also shares his background and experience working in the field of surrogacy law and how it has evolved over the past two decades. 

Dean then goes on to review the legal complexities of surrogacy and the importance of working with a lawyer to ensure that the surrogacy process is done legally and ethically. Listeners will learn about the behind-the-scenes work that goes on during a surrogacy journey and how a legal team can support intended parents during the process. The challenges that arose during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and how the legal team at Circle Surrogacy helped intended parents during that time are also explored. 

Today’s episode is a valuable resource for anyone considering surrogacy – or for those who are currently in the process – as it provides a clear understanding of the legal aspect of surrogacy and how it can help ensure a smooth and successful journey for all involved.

Episode Highlights:

• Dean’s professional history
• How surrogacy law has changed over the years
• The Baby M decision
• The primary role of a lawyer in surrogacy 
• Some of the key aspects of the legal process of surrogacy
• How the legal contract is used
• Working with a good agency
• The relationship between a lawyer and intended parents during the surrogacy process
• Navigating the legal aspects of surrogacy
• How the legal team at Circle Surrogacy helped intended parents during COVID-19

Quotes:

"Pretty much trial by fire, learned very quickly the ins and outs of surrogacy law back in 2003-2004."

"I didn't know anything about surrogacy law other than the kind of famous Baby M decision that every family law professor goes over in school."

"A lot of the expectations for the journey are sort of worked out in that contract phase at the very beginning. So it's not something that's coming up at week 20, at week 24.”

"The relationship between a lawyer and intended parents is one of support and guidance throughout the surrogacy journey."

"A lot of it is negotiating those small things...making sure things are keeping kind of in the norms -  that you're not having someone who's taking advantage."

"And then you get kind of the more intense issues like termination or abortion or selective reduction when the parents have certain rights to request such things."

"We were talking to contacts in the Senate and the House and the St

Thank you for listening!

If you'd like to learn more about surrogacy, you can visit our website. If you'd like to chat with one of our team members, please reach out:

• Become a surrogate (email: applications@circlesurrogacy.com)
• Become a parent (email: info@circlesurrogacy.com)
• Become an egg donor (email: eggdonation@circlesurrogacy.com)

We'd love to hear your story and see how we can support you.