Gestational Surrogacy is permitted in South Carolina because no statute or published case law prohibits it. To the contrary, there is published case law that suggests that surrogacy is valid. Specifically, in Mid-South Ins. Co. v. Doe, the U.S. District Court and looked to a Gestational Carrier Agreement to determine the intent of the parties, implying it was a valid agreement.
Do courts grant pre-birth parentage orders?
Can both Intended Parents be declared the legal parents in the Consent Temporary Order and Final Order of Parentage if at least one parent is genetically related to the child?
Can both Intended Parents be declared the legal parents in the Consent Temporary Order and Final Order of Parentage if no parent is genetically related to the child?
What are the bases for venue?
Do results vary by venue?
If yes, are motions to waive venue accepted?
Is a hearing required to obtain a pre-birth order?
Is a pre-birth order possible in South Carolina based on a Gestational Carrier’s plan to deliver in South Carolina, if no party lives in South Carolina?
Will South Carolina Vital Records honor a pre-birth order from another state?
What is the typical time frame to obtain a birth certificate after delivery?
How are same-sex parents named on the final birth certificate?
Can an international same-sex male couple obtain an initial birth certificate naming the biological father and Gestational Carrier?
Can an international same-sex male couple obtain an initial birth certificate naming the biological father only?
Can they subsequently obtain a birth certificate naming only the biological father or both fathers, with no mention of the Gestational Carrier?
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 South Carolina (i.e., neither of the Intended Parents lives in South Carolina)?
Note: This situation typically arises if the child is born outside the state. The parents then return to South Carolina to obtain a second parent adoption or stepparent adoption in South Carolina.
Will courts in South Carolina grant second parent adoptions or stepparent adoptions to heterosexual couples living in South Carolina? Yes
Does the couple need to be married?
Will courts in South Carolina grant second parent adoptions or stepparent adoptions to same-sex couples living in South Carolina?
Does the couple need to be married?
Is there a statute or published case law that addresses the rights of a donor over the resulting eggs, sperm, embryo or child?
Although no statute or published case law prohibits Traditional Surrogacy, Traditional Surrogacy is treated like an adoption and, therefore, may be illegal unless payments are reasonable pursuant to the adoption statute S.C. Code Sec. 63-9-310(F)(1).
Stephanie Brinkley
sbrinkley@brinkleylawfirmllc.com
www.brinkleylawfirmllc.com
(843) 277-9009
Jim Thompson
jamesfletcherthompson@gmail.com
(864) 573-5533
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