Category: Articles

Georgia’s surrogacy industry is booming, but at what cost?

DW | October 11, 2026

As the ongoing conflict with Russia has upended Ukraine’s surrogacy industry, nearby Georgia has become a surrogacy hub. Many women from nearby countries–including Kazakhstan and Russia–have been recruited to work as surrogates. Experts caution that surrogates lack essential rights in Georgia, including bodily autonomy during pregnancy and guarantees related to contracts, medical care reimbursement, and compensation. They point out that agencies’ priorities are financial interests rather than those of the surrogates, which makes regulation all the more important. 

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Ghana has a surrogacy law, but… – Supreme Court Justice

Modern Ghana | October 10, 2026

Ghana currently has statutory recognition of surrogacy, but it does not yet fully regulate the practice, according to a Supreme Court justice in the country. The judge called for a comprehensive regulatory act, noting that the government still needs to identify criteria for eligibility for surrogacy, to decide what compensation, if any, would be allowed, to establish protocols for donor registration, and to establish regulations for agencies and clinics.

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Surrogacy and U.S. state laws: a recent case

Texas Supreme Court rules baby delivered by surrogate can leave Texas

Texas Tribune | September 18, 2026

McKenna West traveled from Alaska to Texas to give birth as part of a surrogacy arrangement after the intended parents had asked her to terminate the pregnancy due to the fetus being diagnosed with a potentially fatal heart condition. West sought custody of the child and wanted the court to block the intended parents from taking the medically fragile infant to their home state of California for further medical care. The Texas Supreme Court denied her request.

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Supreme Court Order Gives Parents Custody of Baby in Surrogacy Fight

The New York Times | September 11, 2026

West then appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case, effectively leaving the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in place.

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Multistate controversy highlights gray areas around surrogacy, bioethics expert says

KERA | August 17, 2026

Bioethics experts suggest the case shows that many “grey areas” remain in surrogacy arrangements in the United States. This is due to a patchwork of regulation in different states and vague laws that judges, attorneys general, and lawyers interpret differently. Lawmakers could improve the situation for future cases by making clearer legislation to address “big questions” raised by surrogacy.

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Lena Dunham had a baby through surrogacy. This is the emotional reality for women who carry other people’s children

The Independent | September 17, 2026

High-profile cases of celebrities having children via surrogacy have generated critiques of surrogacy as “a luxury option for the rich.” Behind well-publicized cases are more complex debates about surrogacy – whether surrogates should be compensated and how much, how to properly regulate surrogacy, and how to structure contracts. Talking to surrogates themselves reveals a variety of experiences, including religious values, the high percentage of surrogates whose husbands are in the military, and the emotional effects of surrogacy.

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“Who do we hand the baby to?” Loopholes and shady practices taint U.S. surrogacy industry

CBS News | September 13, 2026

The U.S. does not have regulations in place to offer surrogates meaningful protections or to track domestic surrogacy births. Women report that they lack information – or receive false information – about the individuals or couples for whom they act as surrogates and that they receive less compensation than advertised by agencies. 

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Customers of UK-owned surrogacy firm in Mexico allegedly face huge bills after insurance denied

The Guardian | September 11, 2026

The UK government is looking into complaints about a UK-owned for-profit surrogacy agency operating in Mexico. After a number of medical claims filed by Mexican surrogates were rejected, the intended parents in the UK have had to cover the costs. One government official noted that two couples had reported other disturbing experiences with the company, including mistreatment of the agency staff.

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UK surrogacy law: limitations and potential reforms

Government rules out bringing forward surrogacy reforms after petition triggers debate

Today’s Family Lawyer | September 10, 2026

In response to a petition signed by 113,000 people in the UK calling on the government to take up issues of legal parentage in surrogacy arrangements, the House of Commons held a debate on the topic. Some lawmakers emphasized that compensated surrogacy arrangements abroad are increasingly common for UK intended parents and defended the current process. The surrogate is recognized as the legal parent until the intended parents obtain a parental order, with the intent to protect the surrogate and ensure her consent. Others call for a new process because of the length of time it takes for intended parents to receive legal status. Ultimately, the government concluded that it is “not in a position to bring forward legislation on surrogacy reform immediately,” but that it would continue receiving ideas for future reforms. 

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UK surrogacy law ‘creaking at seams’ as demand rises sharply

The Guardian | July 21, 2026 

As demand for surrogacy grows in the UK, the limitations of the country’s parentage laws and regulatory policies are coming under renewed examination. Policy recommendations, which advised more oversight of surrogacy agencies and legal recognition of intended parents when the child is born, formed part of a draft bill. However, the draft legislation has not progressed. In the meantime, difficulties with domestic and international surrogacy persist, as do varied calls for reforms of – or a ban on – the practice in the UK.

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Why Nigeria needs clear surrogacy laws

Punch | August 8, 2026

Nigeria does not have national regulations for surrogacy – a growing practice in the country – which means that intended parents and surrogates depend on private contracts to define protections, financial terms, and other details of surrogacy arrangements. Disputes about pregnancy complications and uncertainties about legal parentage can still arise in a system organized around private contracts, which poses challenges for courts. Legislation would help avoid risks including economic exploitation of surrogates, medical risks from unregulated providers, violations of children’s rights, and custody disputes.

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Surrogacy laws and rules vary widely across Africa

DW | July 30, 2026

Surrogacy laws and regulations differ across Africa and are in varied stages of development. South Africa has an established framework to regulate surrogacy and only allows non-compensated arrangements. Ongoing questions in surrogacy arrangements in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda are motivating consideration of more specific laws that address the rights and interests of surrogates, intended parents, and the children born from surrogacy arrangements. 

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Joy for Polygamous Family as Court Allows Second Wife to Carry Baby for Childless First Wife

Tuko | July 28, 2026

A superior court in South Africa ruled in favor of a polygamous family, which had asked the court to allow a surrogacy arrangement in which the second wife in the family would carry a child on behalf of the first wife, who is unable to bear children. The case impacts South African family law by demonstrating that polygamous households can legally access surrogacy.

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