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Parentage Order Attorneys and Legal Services

When building your family through surrogacy, securing your parental rights is a crucial legal step. A surrogacy parentage order legally names you as your child’s parent. This declaration of parentage ensures your name appears on the birth certificate and your rights are protected from birth.

The purpose of a parentage order is to create a legal parent-child relationship, allowing you to make medical decisions, obtain travel documents and more. In some cases, a second parent adoption may be needed to ensure both parents have full rights, especially where state laws limit pre-birth orders.

At Foster + Bloom, we understand that parentage orders form the foundation of your family’s security. Our experienced attorneys can help you establish your parental rights through pre-birth orders, post-birth orders or second-parent adoption.

Parentage Order Legal Services

Whether you need a pre- or post-birth order of parentage, our attorneys are here to protect your family’s interests. Here’s how we support you throughout the process:

  • Consultation: We start by understanding your surrogacy journey and assessing which type of parentage order applies to your situation.
  • Documentation Preparation and Filing: Our team prepares and files all required legal documents for your parentage order, ensuring everything meets your state’s standards and deadlines.
  • Pre-Birth and Post-Birth Order Services: We guide you through either pre-birth or post-birth parentage proceedings, depending on your state’s laws and your family’s circumstances.
  • Birth Certificate Coordination: We work directly with hospitals and vital records offices to ensure your names appear correctly on your child’s birth certificate.
  • Court Representation and Finalization: We represent you at all hearings and present your case to the judge. You’ll have experienced advocacy at every step.
  • Post-Order Support: We remain available to answer your questions about parental rights, multi-state recognition and any legal needs as your family grows. If a second-parent adoption is needed to secure full rights for both parents, we’ll guide you through every step.

Parentage Order Attorneys Near You

The best pre- and post-birth order of parentage lawyers will understand your state’s unique legal landscape. Foster + Bloom serves intended parents in:

  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Maryland
  • Missouri
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Washington D.C.

What Our Clients Say

Every family’s story is unique, and we’re honored to be part of their journey. Here’s what one family shared about working with our team:

“Barbara took care of our needs from start to finish. She was there to help us with every issue we had along the way. I still remember how, at our first meeting, she spent more than an hour going over multiple possible scenarios. This included things outside what we would have expected an attorney to handle. We would definitely refer her to any other couples we came into contact with regarding adoption or other family legal issues.” –Steve

What Makes Foster + Bloom’s Parentage Order Legal Services Different?

When you’re establishing your parental rights, you need a partner who understands both the complexities of parentage law and what this moment means for your family. Here’s what our attorneys bring to the table:

  • More Than a Century Growing Families: With 185+ years of combined experience, our attorneys have guided countless families through the parentage process.
  • Nationwide Reach With Local Insight: Licensed in 13 states and counting, we know the specific laws, procedures and requirements in your jurisdiction.
  • Trusted Partnership Approach: From your first consultation to the day your parentage is finalized, you’ll have a trusted ally who’s invested in your family’s success.

At Foster + Bloom, we help families secure the legal recognition they deserve. You’ve built your family with love — now it’s time to protect it.

FAQ's

A parentage order is a court decree that legally establishes you as the parent of a child born through surrogacy. It confirms your parental rights and responsibilities, allowing your name to appear on your child's birth certificate. This legal recognition is essential for making medical decisions, obtaining passports, etc.
A parentage order provides clear legal recognition of your parental status from the start. If you don’t have a parentage order, your legal relationship to your child may not be automatically recognized, even if you're genetically related. State laws vary significantly. Some presume the person who gives birth is the legal parent, while others have specific provisions for surrogacy arrangements.
A pre-birth order is completed before your child’s birth so your name appears on the original birth certificate. A post-birth order is filed after birth and a new birth certificate is issued once it’s granted. The type of order you need depends on your state’s laws, your relationship to the child and whether you’re married.
Some states allow intended parents to be added automatically, while others require a pre- or post-birth order depending on family type and state law. Our attorneys work within state laws to ensure a smooth process.
It depends on your state and your family structure. In some states, second parent adoption is necessary when parentage orders don't cover both intended parents or when state law doesn't recognize both parents' rights automatically. This is particularly common for same-sex couples and parents using donor eggs or sperm. A second parent adoption attorney can guide you through the process.
Generally, yes. Some states require attorney representation for parentage orders in surrogacy cases, while others allow you to file on your own. Even when it’s not mandatory, having an experienced attorney helps ensure the process is smooth, timely and fully compliant with state laws.
Timelines vary based on your state's laws, court schedules and whether you're pursuing a pre-birth or post-birth order. Pre-birth orders are often filed several weeks before your due date and may be granted shortly before or after birth. Post-birth orders typically take a few weeks to several months from filing to finalization.