Surrogacy for heterosexual couples
Surrogacy Processes for Heterosexual Couples
At GESTLIFE we work with all the countries where surrogacy is legal and the processes can be carried out with full guarantee. Given the length of the information, we will give you a brief summary of the characteristics of each country and the programmes that are carried out in each one. However, we advise you to contact one of our family advisors, without any obligation, and we will be happy to analyse your particular case in order to advise you on the destination that best suits your needs.
Surrogacy is a complicated process in which the most advanced medicine is mixed with the laws of each country (almost always contradictory or incompatible), and different languages and customs. Surrogacy is a complicated process in which nothing can be left to chance. It is not a job for "amateurs" with good intentions but little experience.
Surrogacy is a complicated process in which the most advanced medicine is mixed with the laws of each country (almost always contradictory or incompatible), and different languages and customs. Surrogacy is a complicated process in which nothing can be left to chance. It is not a job for "amateurs" with good intentions but little experience.
Where does gestlife carry out surrogacy processes for heterosexual couples?
Since its inception, Gestlife's philosophy has been to offer as many destinations as possible to prospective parents.
We research them, we visit them, we open our own offices with our own staff (we are not intermediaries), and we ensure the quality of the services of the providers involved.
In this way we are not obliged to offer only one destination, as happens in many "agencies" which, having only one destination, have to defend it ahead of the interests of the couple, advising against other destinations in order not to lose "clients". We can really recommend the most suitable destination for the needs of each parent, and their economic and personal situation.
Obviously, we want you to go through the surrogacy process with us. That is what we do. But once you decide to work with us, our priorities are threefold:
- Prevent you from making legal mistakes that could jeopardize your surrogacy process.
- To guarantee your medical success: a healthy baby.
- Reduce your expenses as much as possible. We prefer that you keep your money for your child, and not for intermediaries.
At Gestlife we are not obliged to sell a destination as a panacea because we have no better one to offer, but we can adjust to the needs of each person who resorts to surrogacy.
It is important that the family wishing to undertake surrogacy understands that there are three types of countries where surrogacy can take place (of course, there is a fourth group, which are countries where surrogacy is forbidden, which we will not talk about in order not to waste your time, as they do not contribute anything).
We research them, we visit them, we open our own offices with our own staff (we are not intermediaries), and we ensure the quality of the services of the providers involved.
In this way we are not obliged to offer only one destination, as happens in many "agencies" which, having only one destination, have to defend it ahead of the interests of the couple, advising against other destinations in order not to lose "clients". We can really recommend the most suitable destination for the needs of each parent, and their economic and personal situation.
Obviously, we want you to go through the surrogacy process with us. That is what we do. But once you decide to work with us, our priorities are threefold:
- Prevent you from making legal mistakes that could jeopardize your surrogacy process.
- To guarantee your medical success: a healthy baby.
- Reduce your expenses as much as possible. We prefer that you keep your money for your child, and not for intermediaries.
At Gestlife we are not obliged to sell a destination as a panacea because we have no better one to offer, but we can adjust to the needs of each person who resorts to surrogacy.
It is important that the family wishing to undertake surrogacy understands that there are three types of countries where surrogacy can take place (of course, there is a fourth group, which are countries where surrogacy is forbidden, which we will not talk about in order not to waste your time, as they do not contribute anything).
Countries that have specific surrogacy legislation
These countries have specific legislation that develops the right of the commissioning parent(s) to carry out a surrogacy procedure.
These laws transfer the rights over the child from the surrogate to the commissioning parents. These countries have laws drafted by their parliaments, or subsequently modified by rulings of high courts, such as the Constitutional Court, allowing certain people to carry out surrogacy processes.
These are the countries where a surrogacy process can be carried out with all the guarantees.
🔹 UKRAINE
🔹GREECE
🔹GEORGIA
🔹USA
🔹ALBANIA
🔹 KAZAKHSTAN
🔹ARMENIA
For countries such as COLOMBIA, MEXICO, CZECH REPUBLIC, CYPRUS, or ARGENTINA, consult with your family advisor at Gestife, because although in those countries something similar to "surrogacy" is practiced, there are no laws that protect it, which could place you in a situation of legal defenselessness at a given moment.
These laws transfer the rights over the child from the surrogate to the commissioning parents. These countries have laws drafted by their parliaments, or subsequently modified by rulings of high courts, such as the Constitutional Court, allowing certain people to carry out surrogacy processes.
These are the countries where a surrogacy process can be carried out with all the guarantees.
🔹 UKRAINE
🔹GREECE
🔹GEORGIA
🔹USA
🔹ALBANIA
🔹 KAZAKHSTAN
🔹ARMENIA
For countries such as COLOMBIA, MEXICO, CZECH REPUBLIC, CYPRUS, or ARGENTINA, consult with your family advisor at Gestife, because although in those countries something similar to "surrogacy" is practiced, there are no laws that protect it, which could place you in a situation of legal defenselessness at a given moment.
Countries that do not have specific surrogacy legislation
Following the premise that what is not forbidden, is allowed, some agencies with few scruples offer distant and exotic destinations where there is no specific legislation on surrogacy.
It is always easy to find a clinic that is willing to carry out the process. After all, the medical side of things is not much of a secret for a fertility clinic. But surrogacy is not only about "creating" a child, but also about guaranteeing that the child will be recognized as our child, and that there will be no legal problems either to leave the country or to have the child in our country.
And this is where the problems begin in those countries that do not have a specific surrogacy law. Because, as there is no law that annuls the rights of the gestational carrier ("the mother is the one who gives birth", according to most legislation in the world), in favor of the commissioning parents, the gestational carrier in these cases retains all the rights over the child.
In other words, she is the mother to all intents and purposes, and keeps all her rights intact. Therefore, if she wishes, she can prevent the child from being ours, prevent it from leaving the country, or even extort huge sums of money from us. She is the mother and the authorities in her country recognize her as such. We have nothing to do in the courts of her country if anything happens. Therefore, of course, we strongly advise against surrogacy in such countries, as there are no legal guarantees for the commissioning parents, and the most beautiful of adventures can turn into the worst of nightmares.
These are countries like MEXICO, COLOMBIA, ARGENTINA CZECH REPUBLIC or NORTHERN CYPRUS.
It is always easy to find a clinic that is willing to carry out the process. After all, the medical side of things is not much of a secret for a fertility clinic. But surrogacy is not only about "creating" a child, but also about guaranteeing that the child will be recognized as our child, and that there will be no legal problems either to leave the country or to have the child in our country.
And this is where the problems begin in those countries that do not have a specific surrogacy law. Because, as there is no law that annuls the rights of the gestational carrier ("the mother is the one who gives birth", according to most legislation in the world), in favor of the commissioning parents, the gestational carrier in these cases retains all the rights over the child.
In other words, she is the mother to all intents and purposes, and keeps all her rights intact. Therefore, if she wishes, she can prevent the child from being ours, prevent it from leaving the country, or even extort huge sums of money from us. She is the mother and the authorities in her country recognize her as such. We have nothing to do in the courts of her country if anything happens. Therefore, of course, we strongly advise against surrogacy in such countries, as there are no legal guarantees for the commissioning parents, and the most beautiful of adventures can turn into the worst of nightmares.
These are countries like MEXICO, COLOMBIA, ARGENTINA CZECH REPUBLIC or NORTHERN CYPRUS.
Countries with specific legislation on altruistic surrogacy
Altruistic surrogacy:
In countries that only allow altruistic surrogacy, a maximum is set for the compensation that the surrogate can receive, as the law aims to ensure that the surrogate does not enrich herself.
These are countries such as CANADA, or PORTUGAL.
In certain countries, the figure ranges from zero, in Portugal's previous law (currently annulled by the Portuguese Constitutional Court), to, for example, 20,000 dollars in Greece. Paying a higher amount to the gestational carrier is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.
Commercial gestation:
Although we do not like this term, it refers to legislation that allows the surrogate to be paid compensation agreed between the parties, without limits.
In countries that only allow altruistic surrogacy, a maximum is set for the compensation that the surrogate can receive, as the law aims to ensure that the surrogate does not enrich herself.
These are countries such as CANADA, or PORTUGAL.
In certain countries, the figure ranges from zero, in Portugal's previous law (currently annulled by the Portuguese Constitutional Court), to, for example, 20,000 dollars in Greece. Paying a higher amount to the gestational carrier is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment.
Commercial gestation:
Although we do not like this term, it refers to legislation that allows the surrogate to be paid compensation agreed between the parties, without limits.
HYBRID OR CROSSBORDER PROGRAMS:
Due to the scarcity of destinations where to carry out a surrogacy process for homosexual couples or single men, (although they end up offering it even to heterosexual couples) some agencies "go the extra mile" and create programs that have no guarantee and are doomed to failure. Check our prices for surrogacy.
These are processes that look like surrogacy, but are not. Like the counterfeit of an authentic object, which looks like it, but it is not, and after a while, almost always late, we discover why it was cheaper.
These are countries where there is little or no experience in surrogacy, where there is no law that contemplates the possibility of surrogacy. In the absence of a law, which takes away the rights of the surrogate over the baby, the civil code prevails, so the surrogate will be the mother today and always, and we can complicate our lives at any time. In many of these countries, you have to lie to the authorities in the civil registry, or worse, in court, which is a crime. Not everything that glitters is gold. And it can turn into the worst of nightmares. For these adventures, you do not need to contact a specialized law firm like ours.
Due to the scarcity of destinations where to carry out a surrogacy process for homosexual couples or single men, (although they end up offering it even to heterosexual couples) some agencies "go the extra mile" and create programs that have no guarantee and are doomed to failure. Check our prices for surrogacy.
These are processes that look like surrogacy, but are not. Like the counterfeit of an authentic object, which looks like it, but it is not, and after a while, almost always late, we discover why it was cheaper.
These are countries where there is little or no experience in surrogacy, where there is no law that contemplates the possibility of surrogacy. In the absence of a law, which takes away the rights of the surrogate over the baby, the civil code prevails, so the surrogate will be the mother today and always, and we can complicate our lives at any time. In many of these countries, you have to lie to the authorities in the civil registry, or worse, in court, which is a crime. Not everything that glitters is gold. And it can turn into the worst of nightmares. For these adventures, you do not need to contact a specialized law firm like ours.
