The U.S. does not regulate surrogacy on a federal level, so each state has its own laws about whether surrogacy is permitted and how it is regulated. In partnership with the Center for Genetics and Society and Surrogacy360, we have created a map and detailed narrative about surrogacy laws throughout the U.S., including whether and how intended parents can access surrogacy as well as the protections provided for the rights of people acting as surrogates. View the Map
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Parents
A voluntary acknowledgment of parentage or voluntary declaration of parentage (also called a VAP, or VDOP in some states) is a document that establishes a legal relationship between a parent and a child. VAPs must be signed by the person who gave birth and the person establishing their parental rights. View PDF
Since NCLR’s founding 35 years ago, we have worked to advance family law for LGBTQ people and their families. NCLR has helped change the law in numerous states over the years, including prohibiting courts from taking custody away from a parent just because of his or her sexual orientation, allowing same-sex couples to adopt, ensuring that transgender parents are recognized and protected, and recognizing all non-biological and non- adoptive parents as legal parents of their children. Although...
Bani Chatterjee and her partner, Taya King, were in a committed, long-term relationship and decided to raise a child together through international adoption. Because they could not adopt jointly due to discrimination against same-sex couples, only Taya legally adopted their child from abroad. Although Bani did not adopt their daughter, Taya and Bani co-parented their daughter, and Bani supported the family financially. Bani and Taya eventually ended their relationship after they had lived...
