Considering Surrogacy in Tennessee? What You Need to Know

Whether you’re an intended parent or a surrogate looking to complete a surrogacy in Tennessee, Southern Surrogacy can guide you through this life-changing process.

Like many others states in the U.S., Tennessee has a unique surrogacy legal and practical process that must be followed to protect your rights and interests, if you choose this path. Southern Surrogacy can guide you through this process to help you focus on what’s really important — making your surrogacy dreams come true.

If you have any questions about surrogacy in Tennessee and our agency program, we encourage you to contact our professionals online or by calling 855-787-2229. We will answer your questions through a complimentary initial consult to help you determine whether surrogacy is right for you — and, if it is, provide the professional guidance you need during your Tennessee surrogacy.

In the meantime, find out some basic information about surrogacy in Tennessee below to start your research process.

The Truth About Tennessee Surrogacy Laws

While there are not a great number of surrogacy laws in Tennessee, there is one surrogacy statute defining terms of the surrogacy process as it relates to and differs from the adoption process. In addition, Tennessee courts have published several opinions that further lay out the legal framework for the surrogacy process in this state.

If you are considering surrogacy in Tennessee, know that it is indeed a legal family-building process. There are no restrictions on compensated surrogacy and, while there are inherent legal complications in traditional surrogacy in Tennessee, intended parents completing a gestational surrogacy with at least one genetic connection can typically obtain a pre-birth order easily and efficiently. Surrogacy with donated eggs or embryos can be difficult in Tennessee but, if you are considering this route, our surrogacy professionals can always bring in Tennessee counsel to advise you regarding the barriers or seek out a surrogate in another of our agency’s states to provide a safer legal process.

While the published case laws and surrogacy laws in Tennessee are generally surrogacy-friendly, you should always work with an experienced surrogacy attorney in Tennessee to navigate this legal process. Southern Surrogacy will help you obtain a trusted legal professional through our agency to ensure your rights and interests are protected every step of the way.

The Process of Surrogacy in Tennessee

Surrogacy in Tennessee proceeds in the same way as in many states. However, because the process can be complicated, Southern Surrogacy will always guide you through this it, step by step.

The first step in your Tennessee surrogacy should be to contact our surrogacy agency for an initial consultation. Whether you are an intended parent or a prospective surrogate, we will discuss your surrogacy goals and preferences with you to determine what kind of surrogacy is best for you. When you are ready to move forward, we’ll schedule a consultation to discuss the rest of the Tennessee surrogacy process in detail.

Our professionals will help you create a surrogacy plan, including these steps:

• Matching with a surrogate or intended parents. Both intended parents and surrogates have a say in the surrogacy partner that they work with for the next year or more. Our matching process is mutual, which means you can determine your preferences for a surrogate or intended parents, and we will connect you with potential matches that meet your preferences. From there, you will have the chance to speak with them, ask any questions you have, and ensure they are the perfect partner for you.
• Signing the surrogacy contract. You will finalize your surrogacy match with a legal contract, which will outline every risk, responsibility and expectation for your surrogacy journey. Our attorneys at Southern Surrogacy will ensure all of your surrogacy preferences are addressed in this contract before you and your surrogacy partner finalize it, and if appropriate, Southern Surrogacy will associate Tennessee counsel to ensure that your rights and interests are protected. During this process, we will discuss topics like surrogate compensation, contact during and after the pregnancy, and more.
• Completing the medical process. Once a contract is signed, the medical process of surrogacy can begin. A surrogate will work with the intended parents’ fertility clinic to prepare for and complete the embryo transfer. Once a pregnancy is confirmed, the surrogate will work with her local obstetrician to receive prenatal care.
• Establishing parental rights. In a Tennessee surrogacy, most intended parents with at least one genetic connection to their child can obtain a pre-birth order. Southern Surrogacy’s attorneys will guide intended parents through this process, as well as any necessary adoptions or other parentage orders that must be completed to protect intended parents’ rights.

There are many other details and nuances included in the Tennessee surrogacy process, and without the assistance of a professional, it can be complicated and confusing. Southern Surrogacy will work closely with you to ensure you are comfortable with and fully understand what’s happening during each step of your personal surrogacy journey.

Other Professionals You’ll Need for a Tennessee Surrogacy

Because surrogacy in Tennessee is a process with many moving parts, you will need several professionals to ensure your journey is completed safely and efficiently. When you work with our full-service surrogacy agency, you will be connected to all the professionals you may need.

Southern Surrogacy provides case management services to intended parents and surrogates, which means we will guide you through every step of this process: matching, legal representation and psychological screening. Any services that our professionals cannot provide, we will help you obtain through local professionals that we trust and frequently work with.

We often refer our intended parents and surrogates to medical professionals they need, like fertility clinics, obstetricians and hospitals to give birth in. If you are an intended parent who has already established a relationship with a Tennessee fertility clinic, you are welcome to use that professional. Surrogates who have a relationship with a local obstetrician can do the same.

However, if you are in search of a fertility or surrogacy clinic in Tennessee, there are some local professionals available to you:

• Center for Reproductive Health
• Fertility Associates of Memphis
• Tennessee Reproductive Medicine
• The Fertility Center (Chattanooga)

Keep in mind these are just a few of the medical professionals available in Tennessee. When you work with our surrogacy agency, our professionals will provide you a full list of surrogacy clinics in Tennessee to help you find the one that is best for you. Consider searching the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s database to start.

How to Move Forward with a Surrogacy in Tennessee

Southern Surrogacy stands ready to help you complete your surrogacy in Tennessee, whether you are an intended parent or prospective surrogate. Surrogacy in Tennessee is legal and, with the proper surrogacy professionals to guide you through this family-building process, it can be completed safely and efficiently.

If you are interested in pursuing a surrogacy in Tennessee, we encourage you to contact our surrogacy agency today at 855-787-2229 to learn more about the process and decide if our surrogacy program is right for you and your family.

A generous thanks to Tennessee counsel Julia Tate-Keith, who provided state law information for this page: