Surrogacy in Washington, D.C. raises many unique questions that any parent seeking to build their family this way will want  answers to before proceeding. These answers should come from someone who has guided hundreds of families through the same family building process over decades. Whether you are an intended parent trying to understand your options i or a gestational surrogate who wants clarity on any step or every step of the process before moving forward, a private consultation with Meryl B. Rosenberg, Esq. gives you the information and confidence you need.

Meryl consults with gestational surrogates throughout the United States and with intended parents worldwide, including those pursuing U.S.-based surrogacy from abroad. These conversations are confidential, unhurried, and focused entirely on your specific situation.

Consultations for Intended Parents in Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C.'s inclusive legal framework makes it a favorable starting point for many intended parents — but understanding how that framework applies to your specific situation requires experienced guidance. A consultation with Meryl helps you understand what to expect, what decisions you will need to make, and what legal steps are required before you begin.

Topics commonly addressed in consultations for intended parents include:

• How to find a gestational surrogate, whether through an agency or independently (and how we can assist you with an independent arrangement).

• What costs are involved and how compensation is typically structured.

• How the parentage court process works in D.C. for your specific family structure.

• What a surrogacy agreement must include.

•  How the overall process works.

• How to work with your agency and your IVF clinic in collaboration with legal counsel.

• What international intended parents must address before beginning a U.S. surrogacy arrangement.

• When to begin the legal process and what the timeline typically looks like.

If you have already identified a gestational surrogate and are ready to move forward, a consultation can help you understand exactly what the next steps are and how Meryl can support your family building journey from that point.

→ Contact Meryl for Consultations for Intended Parents

Consultations for Gestational Surrogates

Becoming a gestational surrogate is a meaningful and generous decision. A private consultation with Meryl ensures you understand your rights, your protections, and what to expect from every stage of the process before you commit to anything.

Topics commonly addressed in consultations for surrogates include:

• How what a fair arrangement looks like.

• What compensation and expenses should always be included in a surrogacy agreement and how to understand and to discuss your “benefit’s package” if working with an agency.

• Why independent legal representation is required and what it means for you.

• What medical and psychological screenings involve and when they occur.

• What the surrogacy agreement will cover including the compensation and how your rights are protected.

• What to expect during pregnancy, at the time of birth, and after delivery.

• How to identify red flags in a proposed arrangement.

Whether you are just beginning to research surrogacy or have already been matched with intended parents, speaking with Meryl ensures you have accurate, experience-based guidance before taking the next step.

Independent Surrogacy Consultation

Some intended parents pursue surrogacy independently, without a coordinating program (an “agency”), which means they have found their own gestational surrogate either through their own network, the surrogate is a friend or family member, or even through social media. Independent surrogacy arrangements can work successfully, but they require careful planning, understanding and navigation. A consultation with Meryl helps you understand when this path is appropriate, what additional considerations apply, and how to legally protect all parties throughout the process. Whether an independent arrangement is practical will depend on the specific circumstances. , Meryl can help you to evaluate your particular situation.

→ Contact Meryl for Independent Surrogacy Consultation

What to Expect from Your Consultation

Consultations are private, confidential, and tailored to your specific situation. Meryl takes time to understand where you are in the process and what questions matter most to you. As  someone who has been practicing reproductive law and guiding families through surrogacy and other assisted reproduction family building for more than 30 years, Meryll will provide the clear guidance you need.

An introductory 30 minute call is available at no charge to help you determine what type of consultation best meets your needs.

About Meryl Rosenberg, Esq.

Building families together in Washington, D.C. is my privilege and my joy.