When appropriate, this office can provide the legal services to obtain either a pre- or post-birth order so that the intended parent or parents' names will be on the original birth certificate.  This would be in the case of any gestational carrier arrangement in the State of Maryland, including one involving a single male or a same sex couple.  In the State of Maryland, this is ordinarily done as a pre-birth process.  The court order will determine legal parentage for the child and will also direct the hospital and/or state department of vital records to place the intended parents' names on the birth certificate of the child that the gestational carrier delivers.  The steps to obtain a birth order should begin when your gestational carrier is about three months pregnant to ensure that there is enough time to obtain a birth order before the child is born.  In the event that the child is born before the pre-birth order is obtained, we can obtain a post-birth order to accomplish the same thing.

 

In cases where affidavits and other paperwork is necessary in a particular state in order for the names of the intended parents to appear on the birth certificate, I will prepare or assist in the preparation of necessary paperwork.