Ohio Surrogacy Laws
Overview
Gestational surrogacy is permitted in Ohio. Since the 1990s, Ohio has seen a number of court cases dealing with surrogacy. Factors in the cases included the presence of a written contract and a biological connection to a child.
Case law exists discussing the various means of identifying a “natural parent.” Ohio Courts may be guided by the case of J.F. v. D.B., (2007), 116 Ohio St.3d 363, 2007-Ohio-6750, in which the Ohio Supreme Court held that “no public policy of Ohio is violated when a gestational-surrogacy contract is entered into, even when one of the provisions prohibits the gestational surrogate from asserting parental rights regarding children she bears that are of another woman’s artificially inseminated egg,” [at ¶16] and the case of S.N. v. M.B. (2010) 2010-Ohio-2479 in which the Tenth District Court of Appeals of Ohio held at ¶28 that a “surrogacy agreement, which sets forth [the Intended Parent’s] clear intention to cause the birth of the child and raise it as [their] own, manifests [a] voluntary acknowledgment of [parentage].”
However, a biological connection is not necessary for married Intended Parents to secure their rights to a child born pursuant to a gestational surrogacy contract. In more recent years, the state has supported the rights of Intended Parent(s) of any sexual orientation and without genetic connection to their child as long as the agreements are in writing.
There aren’t any statutes or specific laws in Ohio that prevent Intended Parent(s) from pursuing traditional surrogacy. However, the enforceability of traditional surrogacy contracts depends on the judge. Legal proceedings would follow adoption code, making traditional surrogacy in effect a preplanned adoption.
Types of Surrogacy Available in Ohio
Can a parentage order be obtained for the following?
Traditional surrogacy – which is effectively a preplanned adoption agreement – is available in Ohio, but rulings vary when it comes to establishing parentage. Some courts may limit the approval of traditional surrogacy contracts to altruistic situations. Many attorneys and agencies do not take these cases due to the increased legal risks involved because a surrogate legally can’t be forced to give up her parental rights.
Parentage
Who can be declared as the parent(s) of a child from a surrogate via a court parentage order?
– Both Intended Parent(s) can be named on the parentage order.
– Only a genetic Intended Parent can be named on the parentage order. A non-genetic Intended Parent will need to establish parentage via a second or stepparent adoption following birth.
It varies as to whether unmarried parties can have their names listed on a birth certificate if there is no genetic link to the child. The genetic parent will always be put on the birth certificate if a proper contract has been executed. An unmarried non-genetic parent has no legal right to secure parentage of a child born to a gestational carrier, even with a contract – however, some courts may consider the specific facts of the case and issue parentage orders based upon physician affidavits of the IVF clinic that assisted the parties.
Second parent and stepparent adoptions should only be necessary with a traditional surrogacy arrangement or in cases of preplanned adoption agreements, which require a six-month wait time after the Intended Parents take custody of the baby.
Results may vary by court. Establishing a valid Ohio gestational carrier agreement under the guidance of an experienced Ohio attorney is recommended.
How are Intended Parent(s) Listed on the Birth Certificate?
Intended Parent(s) may be listed as Father-Mother, Parent-Parent, Mother-Mother, Father-Father, or Mother or Father.
A birth certificate can be issued for a single Intended Parent with only one parent named (the Intended Parent).
Rights of Egg or Sperm Donor(s)
The issue of egg, sperm, and embryo donor rights in Ohio is covered by a number of statutes and case law. Ohio code 3111.95 states that sperm donors have no rights over the donated sperm or a resulting child.
Surrogacy Steps in Ohio
Surrogacy Process in Ohio
Birth Certificate Timeline
Legal and medical steps involved in the surrogacy process may differ from case to case. Please speak with your agency and attorneys about how the process might look for you.
Court Processes
Surrogacy Contracts
Gestational surrogacy contracts in Ohio are recognized and enforced by the state. Traditional surrogacy contracts may or may not be enforceable depending on the circumstances and the presiding judge.
Independent Counsel
Independent counsel is strongly recommended, but not required, for all parties involved in a surrogacy agreement.
Requirements for Surrogates and Intended Parent(s)
Birth Orders
When working with an experienced attorney, Intended Parent(s) are routinely able to obtain pre-birth orders without a hearing. However, some courts may have a preference for post-birth orders.
Bases of Venue
International Issues
International Intended Parent(s) may find doing surrogacy in Ohio a relatively straightforward process. International Intended Parent(s) will have additional legal steps to complete before their return home regarding their country’s immigration and citizen laws that impact the child. It’s imperative the international Intended Parent(s) speak with an experienced attorney in their home country about their situation. The law of more than one country will need to be considered if the Intended Parent(s) are citizens or residents of more than one country.
Residency Requirements
Birth Certificates
Passport Timeline
Passports are regulated at the federal level in the United States. To learn more about the process of receiving a US passport, visit Travel.State.gov.
Consulting Attorneys
Emily Hete, Esq., LLC
492 Heatherleigh Drive
Akron, OH 44333
(330) 666-6400
emily@hetelaw.com
www.ohiosurrogacyinfo.com
Legal Disclaimer
The content contained in this website is provided for informational purposes only. Content contained herein may or may not reflect the most current legal information on the subject; accordingly, this website is not promised to be correct or complete at any given time. Outcomes referenced should not be interpreted as an indication of future outcomes. Love & Kindness Surrogacy explicitly disclaims all liability for actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this website.
This website does not constitute a replacement for legal advice or counsel. Always consult an attorney before beginning the surrogacy process.
Last updated November 2019
