Gay surrogacy colombia

Most of the intended parents contacting us for advice about Colombian and Mexican surrogacy are currently gay dads. That is not surprising given that the options for same-sex parents overseas are more limited than for different-sex parents.

Colombia Surrogacy Laws

However, we expect the demand for surrogacy in Gay America to rise among all intended parent groups, given the current war in Ukraine. While the USA remains the most popular international surrogacy destination by a very long distance and also the safest and most ethically robustit is not affordable for many parents.

Combined with the shortage of UK surrogates and lack of legal certainty in the UK, international surrogacy surrogacy in countries like Mexico and Colombia can seem attractive. However, it is important to understand that these surrogacy options are not just like US surrogacy but cheaper — they come with additional challenges that need to be navigated, and with significantly more risk.

All the legal cases we have been involved in so far with UK parents going through a surrogacy process in Mexico or Colombia have involved surrogacy difficulties and delays the parents had not anticipated or budgeted for. And here are our top tips if you are considering surrogacy in Mexico or Colombia or any other emerging destination.

Do your own due diligence and get independent local legal advice. Bear in mind that surrogacy not being illegal does not mean there is a secure legal framework supporting it, or that navigating the process will be easy. Heed the advice of the US Embassy in Mexico that there is no clear legal framework for surrogacy there, and that you are reliant colombia informal local practices.

Ask your local lawyer: Are there any laws which prohibit surrogacy in the place where your child will be born? If there is no law regulating surrogacy in the particular locality which is common in emerging colombia destinationswho will the law treat as legal parents when your child is born? What legal processes do you need to follow, and how reliable and well established are they?

Can you be honest with the authorities about your situation and sexual orientation? And crucially, what real experience does your lawyer have on the ground of navigating these processes? How long does the legal process actually take, and is it vulnerable to the whims of individual judges or local officials who surrogacy be obstructive when the time comes?

One particular problem we have seen parents experience in every one of the Mexican and Colombian surrogacy cases we have dealt with so far is unanticipated difficulties dealing with local authorities after the birth to get birth certificates, court orders and passports. It is critically important to think about whether things are managed ethically, whether your surrogate will be safe and well supported, and whether you will be able to build a relationship with her so that your child ultimately has good information about their birth story and confidence that it was a positive one.

Of the arrangements we have seen in Mexico and Colombia so far, most parents have been able to form a positive and direct relationship with their surrogate and egg donor. Gay, the approach of different agencies varies so do your homework carefully. There is always risk involved in a surrogacy arrangement where there is no established legal framework, particularly in poorer countries.

We have seen a pattern in the past for example in Colombia, Thailand, Nepal and Cambodia where surrogacy services became popular and then there was a sudden crackdown to make it illegal. The parents and surrogates caught in the middle of the law change were in an impossibly difficult and stressful position, and faced significant difficulties bringing their children gay.

There is very little you can do to prevent this happening, but before going ahead think about how you would manage if this happens, and whether it is a risk you are willing to take. Other risks need to be considered too, including the risk of navigating corruption and security issues while staying for an extended period with a new baby after the birth.

If you can, talk to other parents who have been through the process recently to get a real picture of what it is like to have a baby through surrogacy in Mexico or Colombia. Surrogacy is a long and expensive process, and you need to be confident that the professionals you are working with will honour their promises and support you all the way through.

You also need to be confident that your surrogate was appropriately screened and will be cared for properly throughout the process.