Having a family is the dearest luxury anyone can have in their lifetime. Knowing that you have people, especially children, who will cherish you forever and live on through your legacy is enough to make us happy. Thanks to the advanced scientific technologies of the 21st century, medicine now allows us to have a family of our own and bring new lives into this beautiful world despite any obstacles. This magical process is known as surrogacy and here at Be Parent we’re dedicated to guiding you through this process.
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Surrogacy in the UK
There are certain rules and laws to follow if you decide to pursue surrogacy, but these rules and legislative demands vary in different countries. The United Kingdom is one of the few countries where surrogacy is legal. The practice of a woman bearing a child for another couple in the UK dates back to 1978, when Britain’s first ‘test-tube baby, Louise Brown, was born. The Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 was passed just seven years after this milestone of artificial fertilization. Since then, many years have passed – nowadays the process of surrogacy in the UK is very well-developed. Intended parents in the UK can choose between traditional or gestational surrogacies, UK law also supports same-sex parents conceiving through surrogacy in the same way as it does different-sex couples and many of the world’s best surrogacy agencies are located in this wonderful country. Even though surrogacy still has to fight the conspiracy theories, it’s on a path of becoming more and more popular for couples who aren’t capable of conceiving a child in a traditional way. Nevertheless, there are several obstacles to overcome if you want to go through with surrogacy in the UK.
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Complications of surrogacy in the UK
One of those above-mentioned obstacles is the price of the procedure – The total cost of surrogacy in the UK can surpass £50,000 (about $65,000 USD), which is a very high price compared to other European countries that offer the same quality and insight of the whole process. Second of all, the current legislation concerning surrogacy in the UK is very outdated and in desperate need of reformation. Under the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985, at the child’s birth, the surrogate mother will be recognized as the child’s mother, and the newborn will be given her last name on the birth certificate. If she is married, the surrogate’s spouse will be listed as the second parent. Parenthood can be transferred to the intended parents via a parental order, which can take up to 6 months to be made. Surrogacy arrangements are unenforceable by law in the UK, which gives the surrogate the right to fight to remain the child’s legal parent if she happens to change her mind once the child has been born. Parents of children born through surrogacy overseas are not recognized as the child’s legal parents in the UK, even if their names are on the local birth certificate. The laws also inconvenience surrogate mothers – if the intended parents fail to obtain a parental order within six months of the baby’s birth, could end up saddled with legal responsibility for a child they had no intention of keeping.
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Importance of having options
Considering all of the downsides and complications of surrogacy in UK, doing research about the background and the process in other countries seem way more profitable, clever and safe. Choosing a country and then an agency to go on with surrogacy is the first and the most important decision intended parents have to make, so it’s recommended to consider many options beforehand. Here, at Be Parent, we suggest intended parents to observe surrogacy and legislative procedures that follow surrogacy in Georgia, a small, but deeply cultured country with the richest history.
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Why choose Georgia?
Georgia lies in the region of Caucasus, among Europe and Asia, and is one of the few countries where international surrogacy is completely legal. According to many medical professionals and intended parents, Georgia is one of the best destinations for surrogacy. The country has a big history of fulfilling the dreams of many intended parents – the law that regulates this third-party assisted reproduction treatment came into force in 1997. Since then, the process of surrogacy in Georgia has improved to perfection. Because of the high standard and the smooth, trustworthy process of surrogacy, Georgia has become increasingly chosen by intended parents from the UK, USA, Israel, Australia, and Europe as an option. The laws surrounding surrogacy in Georgia are very flexible and comfortable for parents-to-be. According to recent Georgian legislation, I P’s must be married at least 1 year or have equivalent proof of cohabitation to go through with surrogacy here, the only demand they have to meet is that the future parents are required to be living together only one year prior to surrogacy. Surrogate mothers from Georgia aren’t allowed to keep the baby following delivery and only the names of the intended parents are written on the child’s birth certificate. This allows the intended parents to obtain the birth certificate in their name in just a day, which makes the whole legislative policies whole less complicated for the IPs. Surrogate mothers from Georgia are strictly required to comply with all medical laws, maintain excellent health, and have at least one child prior to participating in a surrogacy program. The environment and the weather are exceptional and captivating in Georgia, which gives the intended parents peace of mind concerning the wellbeing of the surrogate mother and the baby. Additionally, traveling and staying in Georgia is very affordable, so international IPs can freely come here to observe their child growing and maintain a relationship with the surrogate mother as well as their agency.
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Exit process in Georgia
The exit process of surrogacy is also very developed and well-adjusted in Georgia – Children born by surrogacy to foreigners in Georgia are born stateless and have no citizenship until their intended parents apply for Citizenship in their home country. The average time required to obtain travel documents for a child born through surrogacy in Georgia to foreigners varies by country of residence. For UK citizens, this process takes up to only 8-10 weeks.
It’s clearly visible why Georgia remains one of the top destinations for surrogacy in the world. Affordable prices, an amazing environment, advanced medicine, and, most importantly, the legislative procedures invite intended parents to this amazing, welcoming country where their dreams of parenthood will come true. So, if you’re thinking about surrogacy, you should definitely consider Georgia as a top option and make an appointment with Be Parent consultant. Remember, you’re just a call away from making your dreams a reality!
