Online Course: Surrogacy & The Law: Navigating the Legal Maze of International Surrogacy
To listen to this course, check Family By Choice membership, or download the Family By Choice Learning Platform app.
What to expect in this online surrogacy course?
Skills
Easy
Duration
112 min 86 sec
Lessons
10
Languages
English, French, German, Spanish, Serbian and Croatian.
What's Included in Every Course
Video Lessons
Clear, compassionate instruction broken into digestible modules you can complete at your own pace.
Private Community Access
Connect with thousands of intended parents in our safe, moderated online community. Share experiences, ask questions, and find your support village.
Practical Worksheets & Checklists
Downloadable tools like budget planners, clinic comparison sheets, general legal considerations, and meal-planning ideas that help make complex decisions simpler.
Resource Library
Access educational templates, sample documents, informational provider directories, and continuously updated resources as laws and best practices evolve.
Expert Q&A Sessions
Monthly live sessions with fertility doctors, lawyers, and consultants where you can ask general questions and learn from expert perspectives.
Lifetime Updates
When courses are updated with new information, you get access automatically. Your membership grows as we grow.
Surrogacy & The Law: Navigating the Legal Maze of International Surrogacy Course Lessons
1. Understanding the Global Legal Landscape of Surrogacy
This lesson explains how surrogacy laws differ across countries and why legal protection is essential in every journey. You’ll learn how legal parenthood is defined and recognized in different jurisdictions, how countries are commonly classified by their legal approach to surrogacy, and what factors often indicate higher or lower legal risk for intended parents.
2. Legal Basics Every Intended Parent Must Know
This lesson introduces the core legal concepts involved in surrogacy, including parentage, custody, and guardianship. You’ll learn which legal documents are typically required before, during, and after pregnancy, how pre-birth and post-birth parentage orders usually work, and why specialized legal guidance is important even in surrogacy-friendly countries.
3. Cross-Border Complexities: Navigating International Surrogacy
This lesson explores why international surrogacy is legally more complex than domestic arrangements. You’ll learn how parental rights may be recognized across borders, how citizenship and nationality laws can affect children born through surrogacy, and why planning an exit strategy is a critical part of cross-border journeys.
4. Your Legal Strategy: Building a Safe and Sustainable Plan
This lesson focuses on how intended parents typically build a legal strategy from the beginning of their surrogacy journey. You’ll learn what elements are commonly included in strong surrogacy contracts, why coordination between legal teams in different countries matters, and how families evaluate legal safety when choosing a destination.
5. Contracts, Agreements & Parentage Orders: Protecting Every Party
This lesson explains how surrogacy agreements are used to create clarity and protect all parties involved. You’ll learn what essential elements are typically included in surrogate and egg donor agreements, how medical decisions and unexpected situations are addressed, and what distinguishes strong, enforceable contracts from weaker ones.
6. Citizenship, Birth Certificates & Bringing Your Baby Home Legally
This lesson covers the legal steps that usually follow birth in international surrogacy. You’ll learn how citizenship is determined in different countries, how birth certificates may list intended parents, what documents are commonly required for travel, and why early exit planning helps prevent post-birth delays.
7. Ethical & Human Rights Dimensions of International Surrogacy
This lesson explores ethical considerations beyond legal compliance in international surrogacy. You’ll learn how informed consent and surrogate autonomy shape ethical programs, how emergencies are typically handled, and how intended parents assess whether agencies and clinics meet accepted ethical standards.
8. Red Flags & Real-World Scenarios
This lesson uses real-world examples to highlight common legal risks in surrogacy. You’ll learn which red flags may indicate unsafe or unethical programs, what mistakes intended parents often make when choosing agencies, and how strong legal preparation can help prevent serious complications.
9. The Emotional Side of Legal Decision-Making
This lesson examines how legal uncertainty can affect intended parents emotionally. You’ll learn why unclear contracts and timelines often increase stress, how clear legal structures support emotional safety, and how strong legal guidance can help families feel more confident throughout the process.
10. Your Legal Roadmap: From Day One to Holding Your Baby
This lesson provides an overview of the legal journey from early planning through birth and return home. You’ll learn what legal steps are typically completed before embryo transfer, which processes continue during pregnancy, and what is usually finalized after birth.
Speakers in this course
Sanja Jovanovic
The visionary Co-founder and director of Family By Choice, Fertility Advocate & IVF Entrepreneur
Combining her personal journey through infertility with 9 years of professional expertise as founder of Link4MED and creator of BabyLab fertility supplements.
Alona Kalchuk
Attorney in International Surrogacy & Reproductive Law
Attorney specializing in international surrogacy and reproductive law with 8+ years of experience in complex cross-border legal frameworks.
Choose Your Membership Level
We offer flexible membership plans to fit every stage of your journey:
Monthly
15% DISCOUNT
79 EUR / monthly
- Perfect for those just beginning to explore options!
6 Months
15% DISCOUNT
399 EUR / 6 months
- Ideal for families who already started their journey!
12 Months
20% DISCOUNT
759 EUR / yearly
- Great for those preparing for long-term learning and exploring multiple family-building pathways.
Who is Family By Choice?
Family By Choice is an international education platform offering expert-led courses for people exploring fertility and family-building options, including IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy.
The platform is designed to help intended parents understand complex medical, legal, and emotional topics through structured, educational content.
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Preparing for IVF: Questions to Ask Your Fertility Doctor
What to Expect When You’re Expecting via Surrogacy: An Emotional Guide for Intended Parents
How to Start Surrogacy with Donor Eggs: A Complete Guide for Every Family
Navigating Post-Birth Time With Your Surrogate: A Timeline Guide for Intended Parents
