Gestational Carrier Contracts
When an individual or couple needs the services of a gestational carrier, Melissa drafts legal contracts that detail the parties’ rights, obligations, intentions and expectations (see testimonials). The contract addresses subjects such as parental rights, custody issues, location of delivery, future contact between the parties, and insurance (both health and life). In addition, the contract covers medical issues such as control over medical decisions during the pregnancy, payment of medical bills, liability for medical complications, availability of medical history and personal medical information on the gestational carrier, and intended parents’ presence during doctor visits and the delivery. Financial considerations such as the gestational carrier’s compensation and expenses including lost wages, legal fees, child care and maternity clothes are also addressed in the contract.

Ovum & Sperm Donor Contracts
When an individual or couple need the services of an ovum or sperm donor, Melissa drafts legal contracts that detail the parties’ rights, obligations and expectations. Legal issues such as: identity, confidentiality, parental rights, obligations with respect to future contact and/or medical information, medical expenses, liability for complications to an ovum donor, taxation of monies and the rights of the child are addressed.

Co-Parent Adoptions
When one parent is already the legal parent in a same-sex relationship, a co-parent or second parent adoption is necessary in most states to give the non-legal parent legal status as a parent of the child.

Name Changes
In order to signify their union as a couple, many same sex couples prefer to share both surnames. Our office can provide the legal services necessary to complete this union.

Pre-Birth Orders
In certain situations, when a lesbian couple enters into an arrangement where one woman provides the egg and the other woman carries the child, the two women can obtain court order declaring both women as a legal parent of the child, prior to birth. Melissa was the first attorney ever to get two women placed on the birth certificate of their child, without an adoption, in the State of New Jersey. Melissa has also been successful in allowing two men to be declared the legal parents of a child born to a gestational carrier, prior to birth, in the states of Pennslyvania and Massachusetts.

If you would like more information on the services we provide, we will be glad to send you an information packet or answer any questions you may have. Please click here to access our request form.