Denver Attorneys Offer Infertility-Related Legal Assistance

As the field of infertility has advanced, a host of new legal issues have cropped up. Legal questions have been raised in regards to fertility treatments and technologies that utilize third parties, such as sperm donation, egg donation, and surrogacy.

Lawyers are now specializing in a field of law called Family Building Law or Reproductive Technology Law. This new field of law operates to protect the rights of those involved in family building through assisted reproductive technology.

Denver Law Practices

Before you begin your fertility treatments, it is a good idea to talk with a lawyer who specializes in infertility issues. Reproductive law attorneys can help protect your rights, as well as those of any third-party involvement, like egg donors or surrogates.

The following Denver attorneys specialize in assisted reproductive law:

• W. Thomas Beltz
• Virginia L. Frank
• Seth A. Grob
• Laura Koupal

Surrogacy

Surrogacy is considered the most legally complex of all of the assisted reproduction options. Surrogacy becomes even more complicated if traditional surrogacy is used, when a surrogate is inseminated with sperm but uses her own eggs to conceive.

Colorado laws do not specifically deal with surrogacy. However, the Colorado Revised Statutes do affirm the parental rights of prospective parents of a child born with donor sperm or donor eggs.

Because there are no laws prohibiting surrogacy in Colorado, it is recommended you retain the services of a reproductive law attorney. Your attorney will draw up a surrogacy agreement, which will state your rights and obligations, as well as those of the surrogate. It will also clarify that the surrogate does not intend to seek custody of the child.

Your surrogacy agreement will also specify the fee for surrogacy. Surrogacy fees usually include a base fee, but can also include additional fees for invasive procedures, transportation, multiple births, or caesarian section.

Adoption

If you are considering domestic or international adoption, you should also retain the rights of a lawyer who specializes in adoption. Your adoption attorney will draw up a post-adoption agreement, which will clarify the custody of the child, as well as the role the birth parents will play in the child’s life.