Connecticut's Parentage Act provides a detailed, inclusive framework for enforceable gestational-surrogacy agreements. Intended parents may be married or unmarried and genetically related or not, compensation is allowed through escrow, and parentage arises by operation of law at birth when the statutory requirements are met.
State law provides a comparatively clear path for gestational-surrogacy agreements and parentage when its requirements are followed.
The agreement must be in writing, executed before a medical procedure related to the agreement, and signed by the carrier, each intended parent, and required spouses, with independent counsel for each side. If compensation is promised, the funds generally must be placed in escrow with an independent escrow agent before the procedure.
A carrier must be at least 21, have previously given birth, complete medical and mental-health evaluations, have independent counsel, and have qualifying health coverage that extends at least eight weeks after birth. The carrier's spouse, if any, must be a party and may share counsel with the carrier if the representation otherwise complies with professional-conduct rules.
For a compliant agreement, each intended parent is a parent by operation of law when the child is born. A petition for an order of parentage may be filed in Probate Court at any time after the agreement is executed, and the judgment is effective at birth.
At least one party must be a Connecticut resident when the agreement is executed.
Complete the carrier's medical and mental-health evaluations, intended-parent consultation, insurance review, and independent legal work before treatment.
When compensation is promised, establish and fund the independent escrow arrangement before the related medical procedure.
Sequence matters. Use these steps to prepare for a conversation with qualified assisted-reproduction professionals.
Before treatment, have separate Connecticut attorneys verify eligibility under § 46b-522, the resident-party nexus, spouse participation, escrow funding, insurance duration, and the Probate Court parentage petition.
A carrier must be at least 21, have previously given birth, complete medical and mental-health evaluations, have independent counsel, and have qualifying health coverage that extends at least eight weeks after birth. The carrier's spouse, if any, must be a party and may share counsel with the carrier if the representation otherwise complies with professional-conduct rules.
Complete medical, psychological, insurance, compensation or expense, and independent legal review before medication or embryo transfer. The agreement must be in writing, executed before a medical procedure related to the agreement, and signed by the carrier, each intended parent, and required spouses, with independent counsel for each side. If compensation is promised, the funds generally must be placed in escrow with an independent escrow agent before the procedure.
For a compliant agreement, each intended parent is a parent by operation of law when the child is born. A petition for an order of parentage may be filed in Probate Court at any time after the agreement is executed, and the judgment is effective at birth.
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.
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