Embryo Adoption & Embryo Donation Contracts

No matter what route you're going -  either to place your embryos for adoption or adopt your embryos, the contract that contains all the particulars of your agreement should be well thought out and looked over by professionals.  If you found a family on your own, make sure you have a Third Party Reproduction Attorney write up your contract or look it over.  The extra money spent to have someone review it with experience in this field is priceless.  Actually, I think it's a good idea to have a Third Party Reproduction Attorney look over your contract, no matter if your placing your embryos with an agency or clinic.  You may find that you haven't thought through all the particulars and now is the time to make sure you're certain about your decision.

If you're placing your embryos for adoption, you may feel like you can't speak up and request that certain things be put into place.  For instance, if you feel strongly that you'd like all the embryos transferred within so many years (so the process doesn't drag on forever), then you need to speak up and make sure that language is written into the contract.  If you feel strongly that you don't want the Adopting Family to destroy any left over embryos after they've finished building their family, and would rather they be returned to you; once again, make sure that's detailed in your contract.

I've heard a lot of different stories from many of you and I can't stress enough that you need to protect yourself and your interests and make sure that if certain conditions are important to you, that they be addressed during the contract process.  In my own opinion, this isn't a time to be shy and unsure if certain parts of your agreement should be voiced.  This is the time to speak up and ask questions that you may not be sure of.  I don't think either party should feel threatened about each others conditions or concerns.  They are things that can be negotiated and worked out in a diplomatic way.  I would encourage you to have empathy for each other and try to put yourself in the other person's shoes.  If you find that you can't agree on the particulars, then you may want to explore whether or not this is the right arrangement for your family and each other.

I'm obviously not an attorney and can't advise you as such, but do feel it's important to make sure that you don't have any regrets, once you sign on the dotted line.  You absolutely should not feel rushed to make a decision and you have every right to understand your agreement in terms you can easily understand.  If you feel uneasy about any part of this process, don't hesitate to stop the process, until you do feel comfortable.

Under no circumstances should you walk away from this kind of arrangement feeling regrets.

Blessings,

Sheila