As society evolves, the landscape of what a family looks like and who can be parents is changing, too. More and more single people, same-sex couples, transgender individuals and people with medical issues are building families by way of surrogacy or adoption. So, what do those of us who are considering surrogacy need to think about before we start the process?

Lisa Schuman is the licensed clinical social worker behind The Center for Family Building, an organization working to make the journey to parenthood easier. She also serves as the Director of Mental Health Services for Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut and Gay Parents to Be. Lisa offers counseling for parents and children who formed their families through sperm and egg donation or adoption, and she recently testified as a surrogacy expert for the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Lisa joins Katherine to discuss the pros and cons of New York’s new surrogacy law and explain why more and more people are using surrogacy to become parents. She describes the separate roles of the surrogate and the egg donor, offering insight on how intended parents decide whether to contribute their own genetic material and why it’s important that everyone involved knows what to expect. Listen in for Lisa’s advice on how to best support single people, gay male couples, transgender women and people with medical issues as they build families through surrogacy.

Topics Covered

Lisa’s take on the pros and cons of New York State’s new surrogacy law

Why more and more people are using surrogacy to become parents

The four categories of people who might use surrogacy to build a family

The process Lisa uses to make sure the intended parents, the surrogate and her partner (if she has one) know what to expect

The separate roles of the surrogate and the egg donor

How intended parents decide whether to use a sperm donor or contribute their own genetic material

Lisa’s insight on the psychological impact of a child being biologically related to one parent and not the other

The altruistic personality type of a typical surrogate

How to support single people, gay male couples, transgender women and people with medical issues who are building their families through surrogacy

Lisa’s advice on getting educated before you look for a surrogacy clinic

Connect with Lisa Schuman

The Center for Family Building: http://familybuilding.net/

The Center for Family Building on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/?hl=en

Email [email protected]: mailto:[email protected]

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict: http://understandinginconflict.org/

Miller Law Group: https://westchesterfamilylaw.com/

Katherine on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kemiller1

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller: https://www.amazon.com/New-Yorkers-Guide-Collaborative-Divorce/dp/0692496246

Email: [email protected]

Call (914) 738-7765

Resources

Family Equality Council’s LGBTQ Family Building Survey: https://www.familyequality.org/resources/lgbtq-family-building-survey/

American Society for Reproductive Medicine: https://www.asrm.org/

ASRM’s Surrogacy Resources: https://www.asrm.org/topics/topics-index/gestational-carrier/

ASRM’s Recommendations for Practices Utilizing Gestational Carriers: https://www.asrm.org/globalassets/asrm/asrm-content/news-and-publications/practice-guidelines/for-non-members/recs_for_practices_utlizing_gestational_carriers.pdf

New York’s New Surrogacy Law: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-unveils-16th-proposal-2020-state-state-legalizing-gestational-surrogacy