As a reproductive lawyer in Palm Beach County, Florida, Lisa Paige Glass works every day to build families through third-party assisted reproductive techniques. Not every family is a traditional family, and at Glass Law Office, we find beauty in everyone’s journey to create a family. Our mission is to use all legal means possible to put families together with as little emotional strain as possible.
Reproductive law is not black and white. The circumstances surrounding a reproductive law case are always sensitive and require the oversight of someone such as attorney Lisa Paige Glass who is knowledgeable, passionate, caring, and professional.
Third Party Assisted Reproductive Techniques
- Donor Egg
- Donor Sperm
- Traditional Surrogacy
- Gestational Surrogacy
- Adoption
Donor Egg
Egg donation is a process where a woman donates one or multiple eggs to assist in reproduction. Eggs are fertilized through in vitro fertilization, IVF, and implanted into another woman’s uterus. An egg donor can be anonymous or identified. In the event of an identified donor, a reproductive lawyer should be involved from the beginning to protect the rights of all parties involved including the child.
If you are looking into the use of egg donors to become a parent, Glass Law Office can provide you with the legal services and advice you will need through the process. We will respect and protect your privacy. Lisa’s years of experience with egg and embryo donation law empowers her to walk you through the entire legal process and proceedings needed to complete this process and ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
There are many reasons why individuals and couples look into egg donation.
Here are a few:
- Tests have shown poor quality of a mother’s eggs
- The mother has a potential to transmit a genetic disease to the child
- Early onset menopause
- Diminished ovarian reserve
- A history of failed pregnancies
- A same-sex male couple looking to start a family
In the event that you require a surrogate in addition to egg or embryo donation, our offices can help with that. Please see our page on surrogacy law.
Donor Sperm
Sperm donation is a process where a man provides sperm for the intended use of impregnating a woman through IVF or artificial insemination. Same as an egg donor, sperm donors can be anonymous or identified. Donation can happen through a sperm bank, a fertility clinic, or directly to the recipient. Again, the involvement of a reproductive attorney from the beginning is important in identified donor cases to protect the rights of the parties involved. Medical and fertility clinics offering sperm donation are regulated by the FDA.
There are also many reasons someone may be looking into using donor sperm, some more complex than others.
Below are some of the reasons individuals and couples choose sperm donation:
- Difficulty getting pregnant because of “male factor” fertility problems
- Single woman ready to be a mother on her own
- Lesbian couple wanting to conceive a child
If sperm donation is the route you have decided to explore further, contact reproductive lawyer, Lisa Paige Glass. She will draft and review all of the necessary paperwork and walk you through the process from start to family. With the proper legal assistance, you can enter into an agreement with a sperm donor with peace of mind.
Traditional Surrogacy
Traditional surrogacy uses the egg of the surrogate and the sperm of the intended father or of a sperm donor. This form of surrogacy is less common because it is riskier for the commissioning couple. A written agreement is required prior to the start of the pregnancy. However, because the egg used is the surrogate’s, it is considered a pre-planned adoption: the surrogate is the legal parent and has to execute a consent to adoption, and the parties must complete an adoption under Chapter 63. This is riskier to the commissioning couple because, just as with a regular adoption, the birth parent/surrogate can change her mind, which could lead to a contested proceeding. If this occurs, Glass Law Office could also provide representation in such contested cases.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy does not use the egg of the surrogate, so the gestational surrogate is not biologically related to the child. In gestational surrogacy, the egg and sperm can be that of the commissioning couple, or can be donor egg or donor sperm. Through IVF, the surrogate, or gestational carrier, is inseminated with the embryo which she is expected to carry to term. The gestational carrier has no biological relation to the child and with proper paperwork will have no parental rights over the child from the second the child is born. Given the present state of the law governing gestational surrogacy, if you involve an experienced reproductive lawyer from the start, then it is unlikely you would have a long, contested court battle regarding parental rights.
Adoption
Adoption can be domestic or international, through a public agency, a private agency, or an attorney.At Glass Law Office, we assist birth and adoptive families with completing private adoptions. Most of the adoptions are domestic, but some are international, where we place a child born in Florida with adoptive parents abroad.
Through private adoption, prospective parents are matched with expectant mothers looking to place their child for adoption. Many expectant mothers and hopeful adoptive parents choose private adoption because of the many benefits involved.
Here are some of the key benefits:
- The adoption attorney will conduct extensive interviews to understand the wishes and circumstances of all parties involved to find a successful match.
- The adoption attorney can facilitate any communication between the birth mother and adoptive parent(s).
- The adoption attorney will ensure proper paperwork and contracts are drawn up and signed to protect all parties involved.
- The baby will be placed immediately into a loving home after the baby is born, never having to enter foster care.
If you have decided to pursue any third party reproductive assistance, you may be one step closer to the family you desire. No matter if you pursue egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy, or adoption, there are legal issues that can arise. The process is often long, tedious, and sometimes unforgiving. However, if you stay strong and hopeful, the reward will likely be immeasurable.
Lisa Paige Glass of Glass Law Office has helped countless individuals and couples create the family they have been dreaming of. She uses her years of experience working in reproductive law to help customize your process to your needs and desires while doing everything in her power to ensure it goes smoothly! Call 561-614-6060 now to make an appointment with reproductive lawyer, Lisa Paige Glass.