International Surrogacy

International surrogacy allows intended parents and gestational carriers who live in different countries to work together to grow families. Still, it also involves overlapping legal systems, medical protocols, and immigration rules. As an international surrogacy law firm serving New York and Maine, Oleaga Law LLC focuses on family formation and helps clients understand the legal framework that supports a safe, ethical, and clearly structured surrogacy journey.

What Is International Surrogacy?

International arrangements can involve intended parents residing abroad who work with a gestational carrier in the United States, or U.S.-based parents who connect with surrogates in other countries. In either scenario, questions arise about parental rights, citizenship, birth records, and court orders that will be recognized in both the United States and the child’s home country. A thoughtful surrogacy plan considers not only the birth but also the long‑term legal security of the child and the family.

Oleaga Law LLC is a boutique law firm dedicated to family formation, with experience in gestational surrogacy, traditional surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, and adoption. Attorney Janene Oleaga, Esq., has served clients since 2011, focusing her practice on reproductive rights and family formation to ensure that surrogacy agreements and parentage orders are tailored to the realities of modern families. Her background includes a concentration in international law and licensure in Maine, New Hampshire, and New York, positioning her to address cross-border issues in international surrogacy matters.

Key Legal Issues in Cross‑Border Surrogacy

A central component of any international surrogacy journey is the Gestational Carrier Agreement (Surrogacy Agreement). This contract defines the rights and obligations of all parties, forms the basis for establishing the intended parents’ legal status, and addresses the termination of any parental rights the gestational carrier or surrogate may otherwise hold. A well‑drafted agreement serves as a roadmap for the entire surrogacy process, covering topics such as medical decision‑making, compensation and reimbursements where permitted, expectations during pregnancy, and the steps that will be taken at birth to secure parentage.

Because each state and country has its own approach to surrogacy and parentage, it is essential to consider how state, federal, and foreign law will interact. Some jurisdictions are surrogacy‑friendly, while others restrict or prohibit specific arrangements. Oleaga Law LLC works with intended parents and gestational carriers to align contract terms with the requirements of the states involved and, when appropriate, to coordinate with foreign counsel so that court orders and birth records will work for the family long‑term.

Attorney Janene Oleaga has experience addressing the unique needs of international intended parents pursuing surrogacy in the United States, including those who must obtain parentage orders that will be accepted by their home countries and who must comply with immigration requirements so their child can enter and reside with them legally. She also represents surrogates and gestational carriers, providing independent legal advice to help them understand the magnitude of their commitment and the protections available to them.

How Oleaga Law LLC Supports Your International Surrogacy Journey

For many families, international surrogacy is part of a broader family‑building journey that may also involve egg donation, sperm donation, or embryo donation. Oleaga Law LLC regularly drafts and reviews gamete and embryo donation agreements, coordinates with fertility clinics, and addresses clinic consent forms to support a cohesive plan that protects parental rights and respects all parties involved.

If you are exploring international surrogacy as an intended parent or considering serving as a gestational carrier for a family abroad, early legal guidance can help you choose arrangements that align with your values, timeline, and legal needs. Our New York and Maine international surrogacy lawyer is dedicated to assisting families in growing and protecting their relationships through thoughtful, rights‑focused representation. To discuss your options and next steps, contact Oleaga Law LLC today to schedule a consultation and talk through the specifics of your international surrogacy plans.