Alaska Surrogacy Laws

Surrogacy provides people who are physically unable to carry a child with a way to become parents. If you live in Alaska and are considering surrogacy as your path to parenthood, it’s important to become familiar with Alaska surrogacy laws as you take on this life-changing journey.

Types of Surrogacy

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes several different techniques and medical procedures to help with infertility. There are two different types of surrogacy.

• Traditional surrogacy: Traditional surrogacy involves artificially inseminating the surrogate, who is the child’s biological mother.
• Gestational surrogacy: Gestational surrogacy uses in vitro fertilization using either a donor’s eggs or the intended mother’s eggs. In this case, the surrogate is not genetically related to the child.

It is estimated that there are over 90.000 live births through IVF programs every year. This is only about 2.3% of births in the U.S per year.

Alaska Surrogacy Laws

Alaska has no statutes prohibiting surrogacy or compensation for surrogacy. This means that if you choose surrogacy as your route to parenthood, you can legally compensate a gestational carrier for her expenses and effort.

Alaska’s Surrogacy Process

The typical process for surrogacy starts with matching with a surrogate through an agency. Each party should have its own legal counsel who can draft a surrogacy contract. Both parties sign the contract before any medical procedures take place.

Another important step in the process is having your Alaska surrogacy attorney file for a pre-birth or post-birth order that establishes your parental rights. Pre-birth parentage orders are generally handled in the Superior Court. Alaska started granting these orders in 2014 to married heterosexual couples who used their own sperm and eggs. Since Alaska does not have laws for the process, you should hire a surrogacy lawyer who can make sure your rights are protected during every step.

Hire a Surrogacy Lawyer

The surrogacy process can be full of complexities. The contracts often contain many legal terms that may be difficult to understand. An attorney can walk you through the process while protecting your rights. Having an experienced attorney by your side means you have someone who understands how a surrogacy case works and can answer your questions.

Surrogacy Costs

Surrogacy cost depends on the circumstances, the agency you work with, and whether you use an experienced surrogate. Typically, the largest expense is the surrogate’s compensation, but there are also agency fees, medical costs, and legal fees. Other expenses to consider are any travel costs, insurance premiums, and possible reimbursements for the surrogates’ lost wages if they have to miss work for pregnancy or post-partum reasons.

Contact a Surrogacy Attorney

Otterson Law & Mediation, P.C. is a family law firm with a focus on families. We have decades of experience helping families navigate adoption, surrogacy, and other family matters. We are committed to providing comprehensive legal assistance to individuals and families who want to become parents or add to their families.

If you are considering surrogacy, contact Otterson Law & Mediation. P.C. We can discuss your case and guide you through the process, so you can move forward with peace of mind and a clear picture of what happens next.