Building a family through surrogacy is one of the most personal and significant decisions you will make. Having experienced, knowledgeable legal counsel in the relevant state is essential — not just to navigate the process, but to fully understand the laws of that state and, most importantly, how your parental rights will be recognized. Meryl B. Rosenberg, Esq., founder of ARTParenting, provides legal services and private consultations for intended parents, gestational surrogates, and donors in Maryland, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and Michigan.

With more than 30 years of experience in reproductive law, Meryl brings a calm, deeply personal approach to every case. Whether you are just beginning to explore surrogacy or are ready to move forward with legal agreements, Meryl is here to guide you through every step with clarity and care.

Where Meryl B. Rosenberg, Esq. Practices

Meryl is licensed to practice in four jurisdictions, each with its own laws, parentage requirements, and considerations for any ART arrangement. She is well-versed in the nuances of each state and how those laws affect intended parents, surrogates, and donors at every stage of the process. The applicable jurisdiction in any given case will depend on a number of factors, including where the parties reside and where the IVF clinic is located.

Maryland

Maryland has well-established legal pathways for gestational surrogacy, including a parentage court process that results in a judgment of parentage — typically obtained before the birth of the baby — recognizing the intended parents as the legal parents from day one. Meryl has guided hundreds of Maryland families through surrogacy arrangements and works with a network of IVF centers, mental health professionals, and attorneys throughout the state to ensure a smooth journey for all.

Legal services available in Maryland include surrogacy agreements, parentage judgments, donor agreements, step-parent, second-parent, and post-birth parental rights confirmation proceedings.

→ Learn more: Surrogacy Law in Maryland

Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. is a favorable jurisdiction for surrogacy and family building through assisted reproduction, with legal frameworks that support a court judgment of parentage obtained before birth or after birth as the case may be and that protect the rights of all parties. Intended parents, including same-sex individuals and single parents, benefit from D.C.'s inclusive and well-defined legal environment.

Legal services available in Washington D.C. include surrogacy agreements, parentage judgments, donor agreements, and consultations tailored to the unique considerations of the D.C. jurisdiction.

→ Learn more: Surrogacy Law in Washington D.C.

New Jersey

New Jersey has progressive surrogacy laws, and since the New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act took effect, the legal process for intended parents and surrogates has become more clearly defined. Meryl works with New Jersey parties to ensure that her clients are well-educated about the process, agreements are complete, parentage rights are understood, and every party is protected before medical procedures begin.

Legal services available in New Jersey include gestational surrogacy agreements, parentage judgments, donor agreements, and private consultations.

→ Learn more: Surrogacy Law in New Jersey

Michigan

Michigan's surrogacy law changed significantly in April 2025, transforming the state from one of the most restrictive in the country into one with a modern, well-structured framework for gestational surrogacy. The new law explicitly allows compensated surrogacy arrangements, requires independent legal representation throughout the surrogacy process,  mental health consultation for all parties, establishes clear standards for surrogacy agreements, and provides a clear court process for obtaining a judgment of parentage before the child is born.

The law is intentionally inclusive, supporting single parents, same-sex individuals, and families using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos. Michigan families can now pursue surrogacy close to home with full legal confidence.

Meryl brings a unique depth of experience to Michigan surrogacy matters. A Michigan-licensed attorney since 1986, she was actively involved in the development of the 2025 legislation before it passed, working to ensure the law was sound and that provisions that could have harmed families were not enacted. Since the law took effect, she has continued working on the ground — helping to develop court procedures, advising on implementation, and guiding intended parents, surrogates, and donors through this new and important framework.

Legal services available in Michigan include gestational surrogacy agreements, parentage judgments, donor agreements, and private consultations.

→ Learn more: Surrogacy Law in Michigan

 Who We Serve

Meryl's legal services and consultations are designed around the three groups most central to  surrogacy arrangements:

•       Intended Parents who are building their family through gestational surrogacy and all third-party reproduction.

•       Gestational Surrogates who want experienced legal representation to ensure their rights and well-being are fully protected.

•       Egg, Sperm, and Embryo Donors seeking the best understanding of clear agreements that define expectations and protect their intentions

Each group has distinct legal needs, and Meryl provides dedicated resources, consultations, and legal services for every path.

→ Intended Parents  |  → Surrogates  |  → Donors

A Note for International Intended Parents

International intended parents face a distinct set of legal considerations when pursuing surrogacy (and donation) in the United States. Questions around citizenship, parentage recognition in the home country, travel requirements to get home the newborn, and matching with a gestational surrogate who meets specific legal criteria, all require careful planning from the very beginning.

Meryl has extensive experience advising international intended parents and can help you understand what must be addressed before your journey begins, not after. If you are pursuing surrogacy in the U.S. from abroad, we encourage you to begin with a private consultation.

→ Schedule a Private Consultation

About Meryl B. Rosenberg, Esq.

Meryl B. Rosenberg, Esq. has practiced reproductive law exclusively since 1993, guiding intended parents, surrogates, and donors through every aspect of the surrogacy and third-party reproduction process. She was one of the first to practice in this evolving and growing field, and has helped shape reproductive law in the United States in an ethical manner. Meryl works with other professionals to continually improve the field, ensuring secure, legal pathways to parenthood are in place nationwide. She consults with and provides legal services to clients worldwide, and provides the in-depth legal services needed in Maryland, Michigan, Washington D.C., and New Jersey.

With more than 30 years of experience, Meryl brings deep expertise, passion, transparency, and a personal investment in the outcome of every case.