Legal guides
Surrogacy laws by state
The colors below describe the type of legal framework in each jurisdiction. They are not a ranking of which states are “best” for surrogacy.
How to read the colors: Green means a comprehensive statutory gestational-surrogacy framework. Yellow means the legal path is limited, narrower, or more fact-dependent. Red means there are significant statutory restrictions on at least some surrogate agreements. Blue flags a recent major statutory change or transition that deserves extra date-specific review.
Comprehensive statutory framework
Limited / fact-dependent framework
Significant statutory restrictions
Recent major legal change
Important: Green is not a recommendation or a guarantee that every arrangement qualifies. Red does not mean every form of family-building is impossible. Read the state guide and confirm the current law for the specific parties and facts.
Browse all 50 states + Washington, DC
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, DCWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
What to verify in any state
- Whether a gestational-surrogacy agreement is permitted and what formalities apply.
- Who qualifies as an intended parent under the relevant law.
- Whether separate legal counsel is required or recommended.
- How and when legal parentage can be established.
- Which jurisdiction has authority over the parentage proceeding.
- Birth-record and hospital documentation procedures.
- Any rules affecting compensation, escrow, insurance, or matching programs.
Beyond state law: plan the whole journey
Use the state guides for legal orientation, then compare cost factors by state, how to find a surrogate, agency options, and current surrogate profiles.