Step 1
Confirm that you are eligible for surrogacy in your State or Territory – you must have a medical or social need.
Step 2
Find a surrogate – Speak to family, friends, join groups, talk, make connections, bravely share your journey. Keep in mind that advertising is illegal in some states.
Step 3
Engage an appropriately qualified psychologist for counselling. Both the surrogate and her partner as well as both intended parents require counselling. Report required.
Step 4
Seek Independent Legal Advice. Two Laywers are required – one for the surrogate and one for the intended parents.
Step 5
Obtain approval from your State surrogacy board (Not required in all states).
Step 6
Baby making time! With or without the assistance of an ART provider depending on whether you are on a gestational or traditional surrogacy journey.
Step 7
Pregnancy and Birth – Team work makes the dream work. Registering the Birth – remembering this needs to happen in the surrogate’s name.
Step 8
In some states post surrogacy counselling is required. If required, you cannot use the same psychologist used for Step 3! A report is required.
Step 9
The parentage application. Prepare and file the application and supporting documents. Attend the hearing to get orders for change of parentage from surrogate to intended parents. Legal advice is recommended but you can do it yourself!
Step 10
Lodge the parentage order with Births, Deaths and Marriages and obtain a new birth certificate in the intended parents name – and enjoy!
