Perhaps the most noteworthy update relates to surrogacy. Surrogacy has long been permitted in Washington state, but payment of a fee to the surrogate had been a crime. Under the new Parentage Act, surrogate mothers may be compensated. Families who reside in Washington or have a surrogate here will no longer have to go out of state to allow compensation to the surrogate mother. With this change in the law, there are very specific provisions and processes that must be followed to avoid, and ultimately, the court must approve the surrogacy agreement. It is important to understand the whole process, timing considerations, and legal requirements before entering into a surrogacy plan. The professionals in our Adoption and Assisted Reproduction group are available and happy to guide families down this avenue to family building.
If you have questions on the new Parentage Act or would like assistance with any proposed surrogacy matters, please contact us.