Celebrating 30 years since I first advised about surrogacy

Celebrating 30 years since I first advised about surrogacy

It is hard to believe (and makes me feel very old) but it is now 30 years since I first advised a client about a surrogacy matter.

I remember that first case very well. My new client came into my office in suburban Brisbane and told me:

  • she had been paid $10,000 by a couple to have a baby
  • she had had the baby
  • she wanted to know could she keep the money and the child?

After I picked up my jaw, I looked up the law. These days it is a few clicks on the computer, but back then it was looking up the statute book. I recalled that legislation had passed in Queensland shortly before that which criminalised all surrogacy, near or far, commercial or altruistic- wherever it was in the world, if it involved Queenslanders.

And what happened?

I told her she could keep the money and the child because:

  • the contract was illegal- therefore the money lay where it fell, i.e. with her.
  • she had a 50/50 chance or better of success in the Family Court, if it ever got there, as she was the mother ( this is what is now known as traditional surrogacy). 
  • chances are that it would never go to court, because there was a risk of referral to police for prosecution. 

As far as I am aware, it never went to court. She won. That baby has for many years been an adult, and probably has his own children. I wonder if he has been told of his story?

Since then I have helped over a thousand clients have children through surrogacy, gone on to advise about egg, sperm and embryo donation, and regulatory issues for the IVF industry. I have had clients in every State and Territory of Australia- from downtown Sydney and Melbourne, to the Pilbara and coal mines of Queensland. My overseas clients have come from 28 countries- from as far afield as Solomon Islands, China, Russia, Dubai, US and Switzerland. My clients have considered or undertaken surrogacy in places I would not have dreamed of (and at times have recommended against): Iran, Bangladesh, Nigeria, US, Canada and Greece, for example.

But the greatest joy for me has been to assist intended parents achieve their dreams and become parents, and to represent the extraordinary women – egg donors and surrogates- help the intended parents in bringing love and new life into the world.

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Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board