Grand Rapids Surrogacy Lawyer

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What It Takes to Grow Your Family Through Surrogacy in Grand Rapids?

You need to know your child will be recognized as yours, on paper and in practice, from day one. You also need a plan that protects your surrogate as much as it protects you. That plan should carry you all the way from agreement to birth certificate, without leaving anything to chance.

Michigan’s new surrogacy law took effect in April 2025. The new law finally makes this possible for families in Grand Rapids, but it comes with real requirements.

Each party to the agreement needs their own attorney, and that attorney must be licensed in Michigan. Your surrogate must meet specific eligibility rules. Your attorney is responsible for preparing and filing appropriate pleadings so that you have a court order naming you as parents before your child is born.

At The Family Law & Fertility Law Group, we build every Grand Rapids surrogacy agreement around exactly what this law requires.

Building your family through surrogacy? Let’s protect you, legally, every step of the way. We handle over 250 surrogacy cases a year, and we’re ready to support you in your journey.

Call us today, or fill out our contact form for more information.

Co-counsel in Obergefell v. Hodges*

Licensed to Practice in Michigan*

Practicing Fertility Law Since 1986*

Avvo Client’s Choice Award — 2026

*Founding Partner Ellen Essig

Every Step of Your Grand Rapids Surrogacy Journey, Handled in One Place

Building a family through surrogacy involves more than a single contract.

We serve intended parents and carriers throughout Kent County. As your Grand Rapids surrogacy lawyer, we handle every stage of the process that Michigan’s Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act now requires:

Gestational and genetic surrogacy agreements drafted to meet Michigan’s compliance requirements
Pre-birth and post-birth parentage judgments filed with the family division of the circuit court
Egg, sperm, and embryo donation agreements for families building through assisted reproduction
Review of your surrogate’s eligibility, including required medical and mental health evaluations
Coordination with your surrogate’s independent Michigan attorney
Support for international and out-of-state intended parents building their family in Michigan

What Michigan’s Surrogacy Law Requires Before You Move Forward?

A parentage judgment must be filed with the family division of the circuit court. That filing must include two certifications: one from your attorney and one from your surrogate’s attorney. Each certification confirms the agreement meets every legal requirement of the statute.

If you miss that requirement, a Kent County court can delay or refuse to enter the judgment you are counting on.

Your surrogate must also meet specific eligibility rules for the agreement to be valid. She must:

Have given birth before
Complete a medical and mental health evaluation
Be at least 21
Have her own attorney

Courts can issue the parentage judgment before or after birth. That’s why most families file well ahead of the due date.

Why Your Surrogate Needs Her Own Michigan Attorney, Not Just Yours?

Michigan’s law does not allow one attorney to represent all parties of a surrogacy arrangement in Grand Rapids.

Your surrogate needs her own Michigan-licensed lawyer, and so do you. The court cannot enter a parentage judgment without a certification from each attorney, confirming that the agreement is in compliance with the statute.

We coordinate directly with your surrogate’s independent counsel from the start of the process. That way, this requirement never holds up your parentage judgment later.

Maybe your surrogate lives elsewhere in Michigan. Maybe you matched through an out-of-state agency, or maybe your clinic is in another state. No matter how your journey begins, we walk both sides through exactly what Michigan requires, so you get an agreement that holds up in a Kent County courtroom.

What’s In a Surrogacy Agreement?

A surrogacy agreement must address specific issues before any medical intervention can occur. This is a discussion between both parties to create a shared understanding of the expectations around pregnancy and birth.

Here is a list of what is usually included:

Payment for the surrogate, and what happens to that payment if the agreement ends early
How the pregnancy will start, including if donated sperm, eggs, or embryos are used
Who makes health choices during the pregnancy. The surrogate keeps the right to make her own medical decisions and pick her own doctor
Suggestions about prenatal care and daily habits, like exercise
What happens if problems come up during the pregnancy
Where the baby will be born, and how the surrogate and parents will work together at the hospital
Health insurance and who pays for what
Each person’s right to end the agreement, and what happens if they do

Grand Rapids Surrogacy Questions We Hear Most

Is surrogacy legal in Michigan now?

Yes. Michigan’s Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act took effect in April 2025. It made both compensated and uncompensated surrogacy legal. The law also includes clear rules that protect intended parents and surrogates alike.

Do we need a Michigan attorney if we live out of state?

Yes. Michigan law requires the surrogate and each intended parent to have their own Michigan-licensed attorney. This applies no matter where you live. It’s what allows the court to receive the certification it requires.

Will both of us be listed on our child’s birth certificate?

Yes. Once a Kent County court enters your parentage judgment, the state registrar issues your child’s birth certificate. It lists you and your co-parent as the legal parents. No adoption is required.

What does a Grand Rapids surrogacy agreement cost?

Costs vary case by case and depend on a few things: whether you’re working with a gestational or genetic surrogate, whether donation is involved, and where you and your surrogate live. Once we understand your situation, we’ll give you a clear, itemized estimate.

How long does the process take from agreement to birth certificate?

Every case moves at its own pace. Most families complete their surrogacy agreement well before the surrogate’s pregnancy begins. They also file for a pre-birth parentage judgment, so it’s ready before delivery.

If your question is not answered here, contact us, and we will walk through your specific situation together. No charge.

Start Your Grand Rapids Surrogacy Journey the Right Way

Michigan’s surrogacy law is still new. Getting every requirement right the first time ensures your ability to obtain the parentage judgment, your timeline, and your surrogate.

Whether you are just starting to research surrogacy or already have a match and need an agreement drafted, our fertility law team is ready to build the plan your situation requires.

Contact us to schedule a consultation and find out exactly what your Grand Rapids surrogacy agreement needs to hold up in court.

Hire a Surrogacy Lawyer in Grand Rapids

At The Family Law & Fertility Law Group, we understand how important your surrogacy journey is. Whether you are an intended parent or a surrogate, we can guide and represent you through each stage of the legal process. Our approach combines experienced legal counsel with compassion, personal attention, and a commitment to protecting your interests.

The legal aspects of surrogacy can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate them alone. We are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help make the legal process as clear and straightforward as possible.