From Ban to Boom: How Do Parents Navigate Changes in Michigan Surrogacy Law?

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Planning a family and unsure of the legal process surrounding alternative reproductive means?

The month of March is designated as Surrogacy Awareness Month, meant to improve perception about the practice and provide support to intended parents. According to simplesurrogacy.com, gestational carrier births have increased massively over the past decade, from 3,202 in 2012, soaring to 8,862 in 2021 and peaking around 9,195 in 2019.

However, surrogacy laws vary greatly depending on the state. Michigan for example, until recently, was one of the least surrogate-friendly states. So where does that leave prospective parents?

Join our March 2nd Wednesday session:

• When: March 12, from 12:00-12:30 pm
• Registration: https://bit.ly/2ndWeds2025

Moderator Rob Hamor welcomes alternative reproductive technology law attorney Jennifer Montasir and family law & estate planning attorney Gabrielle Lawrence.

Jennifer will provide a firsthand account of the surrogacy process as she herself went through it, along with the latest developments including:

• The main differences between the old laws and the new:
  • Since 1988 and before April 2024, Michigan law prohibited compensated surrogacies and declared surrogate parentage contracts void and unenforceable. 
  • What are a parent's rights are under each?
  • What are noncompliance penalties enforced? 
• What are the new requirements under the Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act?
  • Goes into effect on March 19, 2025
• What is included in the recent executive order that expands access to in vitro fertilization (IVF)
  • Meant to lower costs and reduce barriers to IVF.
• How to update your estate plan if you wish to expand your family?