Assisted Reproduction & Surrogacy
At Whitaker Kent Ordell PLLC, we recognize medical advances, technology, and new approaches are changing the way we think about family formation. In vitro fertilization, surrogacy, donor eggs, cryogenic technology, and the ability to test embryos for genetic markers have enabled many people—straight or gay, married or single—to bring children into their families.
Our professionals help you chart the course for adding a child to your life in a positive and productive way. We will advise you on every aspect of your family formation journey, including working with agencies, communicating with physicians, and advising you on legal concerns such as parenting rights, surrogacy, donated gametes, and estate planning.
Third-party reproduction is often a multi-faceted process involving doctors, physicians, psychologists, attorneys, agencies, and others. Our attorneys are passionate about helping our clients realize their family-planning goals. We are prepared to pursue those goals on your behalf, even if your plan does not fit a traditional mold.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy is an arrangement whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant and carry a child for another individual or couple. Both gestational surrogacy and traditional (genetic) surrogacy are legal in Washington. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate conceives her own biological child with the intention of relinquishing the child to be raised by the intended parents. In gestational surrogacy, the commissioning couple or individual will provide the embryo through IVF using either their own or donor eggs and sperm. Unlike traditional surrogacy, a gestational surrogate (carrier) has no genetic link to the baby they carry. While gestational surrogacy carries less risk than traditional surrogacy, the legal agreement between a surrogate and the intended parent(s) must be carefully drafted and reviewed by experienced ART attorneys to ensure the rights of all parties are protected.