I want to pursue surrogacy, where do I begin?

Firstly, arriving at this point is no mean feat; you have undoubtedly been to hell and back, in one way or another. Now you are here – take some time to celebrate the new journey ahead of you.
The first thing you need to do is to check whether you and your surrogate qualify for surrogacy. The requirements are different in each of the Australian states and territories, so you should check with your doctor or call a surrogacy lawyer to ask for the criteria.

The next steps depend on whether you already have a surrogate or not. If you do, that is fantastic, and you should call me or another fabulous surrogacy lawyer to get the ball rolling.

If you don’t yet have a surrogate, you may want to know how to find one. My best advice is to be open with your friends and family about your desire to have a family. It is usually in sharing your story that loved ones emerge to offer to help you. Please do not advertise for a surrogate as in most states of Australia, advertising is prohibited. This includes social media posts.

Please also exercise caution in engaging surrogacy matching services. International surrogacy is a good option if you do not have a surrogate in Australia.

We can assist you with all your enquiries (and if we can’t, we can refer you to the people who can).

Nicole Russell is a specialist surrogacy and fertility lawyer advising heterosexual and LGBTIQ+ individuals and couples to achieve their dreams of becoming parents. Nicole provides specialist legal advice on all aspects of Australian and international surrogacy arrangements and fertility legal issues including the use and transport of donor gametes. Nicole is based in Melbourne and acts for clients in all Australian states and territories. Nicole is an IVF warrior and a mum through surrogacy in Australia.