gestational carrier

Surrogacy - Well, the birth and subsequent remarks made by Nicole Kidman, who just had a daughter via surrogacy with her husband Keith Urban, is causing quite a stir in their native country Australia. The web is filled with comments regarding Nicole's statement:

“Our family is truly blessed, and just so thankful, to have been given the gift of baby Faith Margaret. No words can adequately convey the incredible gratitude that we feel for everyone who was so supportive throughout this process, in particular our gestational carrier."

In a landmark case, a British high court judge has allowed a couple that paid their American surrogate more than “reasonable expenses” to keep the baby even though that type of payment is not allowed under British law. “The baby was allowed to enter Britain temporarily on a US passport, but would have been potentially stateless and parentless if the courts had not retrospectively approved the large payment.”

I just read a wonderful book, and I want to share it with all of you. It is Once Upon a Surrogate: The Stork’s Helpers by Jill Hancock Reeder

This book is an absolute joy to read and a book that NEEDED to be written. Jill, with the help of her supportive and creative family, has created an absolutely beautiful story that describes the process of surrogacy to the children of the surrogate, who are often overlooked in the process, Once Upon a Surrogate provides an excellent conversation starter for surrogates and their families.

Happy Friday! A few updates on federal stem cell research courtesy of the ASRM and Australian surrogacy law. Enjoy!

Surrogacy bill gives parents more rights (Sydney, Australia) -

The Syndey Morning Herald
PARENTS of children born through surrogacy would be given full legal recognition for the first time, under a bill introduced in Parliament last night. Couples would also be able to enter into surrogacy arrangements abroad.

Couples would also be able to adopt a child born to a surrogate mother between 30 days and six months of birth.

If you follow my tweets (@surrogacylawyer) you know about the Superior Court judge in New Jersey's ruling that the gestational carrier who bore twins for her brother is now their legal mother.

Surrogacy & the Media - With all of the attention this industry has given the NY Times Surrogacy article last week, which I myself had blogged about here, I wanted to give everyone a few additional updates to ponder.

http://www.surrogacyissuesblog.com/2009/12/14/surrogacy-the-media-why-is...

Once is from the American Fertility Association, and the other is from the NY Times themselves with readers responding directly to the Editor.

Good Morning and TGIF to all! Hope you are well. Morning radio show starts in about an hour, so here are your Friday Legal Updates. They are mostly international stories with a federal law suit just filed also added. Enjoy!