GESTATIONAL SURROGACY IN ALASKA
Gestational Surrogacy is permitted in Alaska because no statute or published case law prohibits it.
PRE-BIRTH PARENTAGE ORDERS
Do courts grant pre-birth parentage orders? Yes. These are typically filed in the judicial district that covers Anchorage.
Who can get a court order if at least one parent is genetically related to the child?
- Married heterosexual couple using own egg and own sperm: Yes
- Married heterosexual couple using an egg donor or sperm donor: Yes
- Unmarried heterosexual couple using own egg and own sperm: Yes
- Unmarried heterosexual couple using an egg donor or sperm donor: Yes
- Single parent using own egg or sperm: Yes
- Married same-sex couple using an egg donor or sperm donor: Yes
- Unmarried same-sex couple: Yes
Who can get a court order if no parent is genetically related to the child?
- Married heterosexual couple: Yes
- Unmarried heterosexual couple: Yes
- Single parent: Yes
- Same-sex couple: Probably, but not yet done
What are the bases for venue? Intended Parents’ residence, Gestational Carrier’s residence, child’s birthplace, location of Vital Records, or convenience of the participants
Do results vary by judicial district? Possibly, but pre-birth orders are typically filed in Anchorage.
If yes, are motions to waive venue accepted? Yes
Is a hearing required to obtain a court order? A hearing is required to obtain a pre-birth parentage order. A hearing is also required for an adoption order and all parties can be ordered to appear, although it is within the court’s discretion. Requests to appear by telephone in Alaska are liberally granted, but not guaranteed..
Is a pre-birth order possible in Alaska based on a Gestational Carrier’s plan to deliver in Alaska, if no party lives in Alaska? Not likely to happen, based on the geographical location of Alaska, but the answer is still yes.
Will Alaska Vital Records honor a pre-birth order from another state? Unclear, but probably.
What is the typical time frame to obtain a birth certificate after delivery? Approximately one week if there was a pre-birth parentage order.
SAME-SEX COUPLE
How are same-sex parents named on the final birth certificate? Parent and Parent
Can an international same-sex male couple obtain an initial birth certificate naming the biological father and Gestational Carrier? Unclear, but possibly
Can an international same-sex male couple obtain an initial birth certificate naming only the biological father? With a pre-birth order, yes.
Can they subsequently obtain a birth certificate naming only the biological father or both fathers, with no mention of the Gestational Carrier? Yes
If neither of the Intended Parents live in Alaska, can the non-biological parent in a same-sex couple obtain a second parent adoption based solely on the fact that the child was born in Alaska (i.e., neither of the Intended Parents lives in Alaska)? Probably yes
If no, will Alaska Vital Records honor a second parent adoption order from another state and add the second parent to the birth certificate? Yes
SECOND PARENT & STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS
Note: This situation typically arises if the child is born outside of the state. The parents then return to Alaska to obtain a second parent adoption or stepparent adoption in Alaska.
Will courts in Alaska grant second parent or stepparent adoptions to heterosexual couples living in Alaska? Yes
Does the couple need to be married? No
Will courts in Alaska grant second parent or stepparent adoptions to same-sex couples living in Alaska? Yes
Does the couple need to be married? No
EGG AND SPERM DONATION
Is there a statute or published case law that addresses the rights of a donor over the resulting eggs, sperm, embryo, or child? No
TRADITIONAL SURROGACY IN ALASKA
Traditional Surrogacy is permitted in Alaska because no statute or published case law prohibits it.
State law information provided by the following attorneys practicing Reproductive Law in this state:
Lori Colbert
Anchorage, AK
info@mendelcolbert.com
www.mendelcolbert.com
(907) 279-5001
Other attorneys practicing in this state:
Allison Mendel
Anchorage, AK
amendel@mendelandassociates.com
www.mendelcolbert.com
(907) 279-5001
Jacob A. Sonneborn
Anchorage, AK
(907) 276-4331
This is a copyrighted document and therefore protected by the copyright laws of the United States. Violation of these laws is a punishable offense under the US Copyright laws and, depending on the method of transmission, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Any retransmission or use of this document or any map herein is expressly prohibited without prior and express authorization of Creative Family Connections LLC.
Creative Family Connections LLC is not providing legal advice to users of this website, nor does use of any of the maps or summaries on this website constitute or create any attorney-client relationship between Creative Family Connections LLC and users of this site.
This website is not intended to substitute for consulting with legal counsel in the appropriate local jurisdiction. Creative Family Connections makes no warranties that the information on this site is current, accurate, or that favorable results that have been obtained in prior cases will be obtained in future cases.