California has one of the country's clearest statutory frameworks for gestational surrogacy. It recognizes married or unmarried intended parents, does not require an intended-parent genetic connection, permits compensated arrangements, and directs courts to issue parentage judgments when the agreement satisfies Family Code § 7962.
State law provides a comparatively clear path for gestational-surrogacy agreements and parentage when its requirements are followed.
A gestational-carrier agreement is presumptively valid when it identifies the parties, gamete sources, disclosure and payment terms, and insurance; each side has separate independent counsel; signatures are notarized or witnessed; and the agreement is fully executed before medications or procedures begin. California also regulates how client funds are held by non-attorney facilitators.
An intended parent may be an individual, married or unmarried, and the statute does not require a genetic connection or California residency. The agreement must identify each intended parent and disclose the source of the eggs and sperm.
An intended parent, carrier, or carrier's counsel may file a parentage action before birth in a county authorized by § 7962. For a compliant agreement, the court must issue a judgment establishing the intended parent or parents as the child's legal parent or parents, and California Rule of Court 5.78 and form SUR-100(J) govern the judgment process beginning July 1, 2026.
The intended parent side and carrier must be represented by separate, independent licensed attorneys before signing.
The agreement must be fully executed before the carrier begins medication or any embryo-transfer or assisted-reproduction procedure.
The agreement must identify gamete sources and address how medical expenses and carrier compensation or reimbursement will be handled.
Sequence matters. Use these steps to prepare for a conversation with qualified assisted-reproduction professionals.
Engage separate California assisted-reproduction attorneys before the carrier begins medication; have counsel verify every § 7962 term, signature, notarization or witness, fund-handling arrangement, venue, and pre-birth judgment filing.
An intended parent may be an individual, married or unmarried, and the statute does not require a genetic connection or California residency. The agreement must identify each intended parent and disclose the source of the eggs and sperm.
Coordinate the clinic, surrogate screening, insurance review, independent attorneys, and all required signatures before medication or embryo transfer. A gestational-carrier agreement is presumptively valid when it identifies the parties, gamete sources, disclosure and payment terms, and insurance; each side has separate independent counsel; signatures are notarized or witnessed; and the agreement is fully executed before medications or procedures begin. California also regulates how client funds are held by non-attorney facilitators.
An intended parent, carrier, or carrier's counsel may file a parentage action before birth in a county authorized by § 7962. For a compliant agreement, the court must issue a judgment establishing the intended parent or parents as the child's legal parent or parents, and California Rule of Court 5.78 and form SUR-100(J) govern the judgment process beginning July 1, 2026.
Review the linked statutes, court materials, public guidance, and clearly identified practice sources as a starting point for current legal review.
Laws, court practices, and local filing procedures can change. This page provides general educational information, not legal advice. Consult independent assisted-reproduction counsel licensed in the relevant state before relying on it.
Choose a city to open its local resource page.
