Posts by Marla Neufeld

New York Surrogacy Laws: Start spreading the news…effective February 15, 2021, New York has officially legalized commercial gestational surrogacy via the Child Parent Security Act (CPSA). “Gestational surrogacy” is where the surrogate has no genetic connection to the child. The change in the laws do not pertain to “traditional surrogacy” also referred to as “genetic…

On February 9, 2021, Florida reproductive attorney, Marla Neufeld, Esq. was interviewed by Sarah Williams, a legal director at the prestigious UK law firm, Payne Hicks Beach. As stated in part from the Payne Hicks Beach website regarding the experience of Sarah Williams: Sarah is a Legal Director in the Payne Hicks Beach Family department,…

On February 5, 2021, Florida reproductive attorney, Marla Neufeld, was the presenting speaker for webinar regarding Florida laws on surrogacy, egg, sperm, and embryo donation. The event was hosted by Florencia Daud, an Argentine lawyer specializing in bioethics and reproductive technology law.  Ms. Daud co-founded BioJur, an organization in Argentina dedicated to educating people about…

Florida surrogacy attorney, Marla Neufeld, Esq. is a longtime supporter of Men Having Babies.  Ms. Neufeld volunteers her legal services to the GPAP program to assist gay men in building their family via surrogacy and egg donation. For all Florida Men Having Babies conferences, Ms. Neufeld has been a featured speaker on the legal panel.…

YES! Importance of Surrogates or Donor Having an Independent Third Party Assisted Reproductive Attorney In any surrogacy or donation of genetic material matter in the United States, the standard arrangement is for the intended parent(s) to have an attorney to draft the applicable agreement based on the applicable state law. International intended parents may also have…

Florida law specifically governs sperm donation. Florida Statute 742.14 sets out a legal framework regarding sperm donation, however, proper documentation and other best practices such as a mental health evaluation of the parties involved is necessary to ensure that the sperm donation is performed properly.  A large part of the litigation in Florida regarding third party…

On October 13, 2020, Florida surrogacy attorney, Marla Neufeld, joined on a distinguished panel for the University of Miami School of Law’s Child Advocacy & Family Law Society Panel on Family Formation Panel. The presentation was a great overview of some of the emerging legal issues in Florida that relate to family formation within the…

On August 20, 2020, Florida surrogacy attorney, Marla Neufeld, Esq., participated on a webinar at Greenspoon Marder, titled, “Important Legal Updates Impacting the LGBTQIA Community in Employment, Family, Immigration and Surrogacy Law”. Recently, the Supreme Court held that Title VII’s employment extended to gay and transgender employees. And while this has been needed and welcome…

Typically in a surrogacy context, the hospital will not submit paperwork to the Social Security Administration because they do not want to link the surrogate to the baby when the social security number is issued. In non-COVID times, after the baby was born and the birth certificate was issued, the parents could go to a…

Pursuant to Florida law (which stems from a woman’s right to make decisions that relate to her body), ultimately decisions relating to a surrogate’s body, such as having an abortion or not, are the surrogate’s decisions to make. Contractually pursuant to a gestational surrogacy agreement, a surrogate may agree to defer to the intended parents’…