Empowering Families

Every once in a while, something happens in the law that fundamentally changes everything. These moments are rare, but when they occur, they’re truly significant. I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce and family attorney in New York State and New York City for over 30 years. Recently, this month in February 2021, New York has experienced one of these pivotal moments: the state is now permitting gestational surrogacy.

What does this mean? It means that individuals and families forming families in non-traditional ways—beyond the conventional methods—can now hire a surrogate to carry a pregnancy in New York State. There are strict regulations governing this process; for example, the surrogate cannot be the biological mother of the child. Nonetheless, this new law provides an important opportunity for families who wish to create a family in unique ways or who are unable to carry a child to term themselves.

Over the past decade, not just in New York but globally, the definition of family has evolved significantly. While emotional aspects of family have long been understood, the law is gradually catching up, offering new ways for people to form families and acknowledging their rights and responsibilities.

At the Miller Law Group, we are excited to announce the opening of our Reproductive Rights Department. If you have any questions about family formation, surrogacy laws, or related topics, don’t hesitate to reach out on our email address info@miller-law.com or call us at (914) 685-9805. Thanks for listening.