⚖️ Legal Terms

The legal side of surrogacy can feel overwhelming. These definitions cut through the jargon so you understand what you're signing and what protections you have.

Pre-Birth Order
A pre-birth order (PBO) is a court order issued before delivery that legally establishes the intende... Surrogacy Contract
A surrogacy contract is the legally binding agreement between a surrogate (gestational carrier) and ... Gestational Carrier Agreement
A gestational carrier agreement (GCA) is the formal legal term for the surrogacy contract — the bind... Surrogacy-Friendly States
Surrogacy-friendly states are U.S. states with laws or established legal precedents that support enf... Independent Legal Counsel
Independent legal counsel (ILC) refers to an attorney who represents only the surrogate's interests ... Intended Parents' Rights
Intended parents' rights are the legal entitlements of the person or couple commissioning a surrogac... Surrogate's Rights
A surrogate's rights are the legal and contractual protections that ensure a gestational carrier ret... Altruistic vs. Compensated Surrogacy
Altruistic surrogacy is when a surrogate receives no financial compensation beyond expense reimburse... Parentage Order
A parentage order is a court order that establishes who the legal parents of a child are. In surroga... Surrogacy Laws by State
Surrogacy laws by state refers to the patchwork of state-level legislation, court precedents, and le...