As part of the documentation process to prove that we are eligible for surrogacy in Georgia, I have been trying to obtain our IVF records at the (public) hospital, which somehow proved more difficult than it sounds. Nonetheless, it was a walk down memory lane and an intense flashback of all the ups and downs we’ve had. Records indicate we officially started the process in November 2019. And here we are – almost exactly five years later in 2024.
While we’re waiting for our PGS test results, the past two weeks after our return to home country has been about frantically trying to get paperwork in place to ensure we get the green light from the Georgian government to sign a contract with a surrogate mother. Because of our complicated situation – both of us having dual nationalities, and the fact that we are living in a fifth country in which neither of us is a citizen – getting our Marriage Certificate legalized (as per the requirements) became a rather complicated process.
There are several ways that a couple could be eligible for surrogacy in Georgia. In accordance with Georgian legislation, the parties entering a surrogacy contract must be a heterosexual couple. Georgia is predominantly Christian (Georgian Orthodox) when it comes to religion and does not permit surrogacy for gay and lesbian couples 🙁
Given that, it was surprising to learn that heterosexual couples do not have to be married. If you’re married for less than a year, providing a Marriage Certificate (apostilled/legalized) would be the easiest.
For couples who are not married, you can also provide an official Cohabitation License – including proof of the same living address, co-ownership of property, promissory notes, shared bank accounts, or lease contracts. Each of these require some combination of apostille OR legalization AND notarization. In these instances, the surrogacy process, ie, transferring an embryo, can only start a year from the date of legalization. The last proof is the doctor’s/clinic’s letter stating the couple’s IVF treatment, which needs to be notarized and apostilled.
As you might imagine, navigating these processes can take up precious time (I had no idea what an apostille meant before this), so start looking into it and check with the lawyer at the clinic or agent beforehand. I most definitely would have started it if I had known about it earlier.
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