Surrogacy

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple (the intended parent/s).

If a child is born through a surrogacy arrangement:

1. Surrogate mother (and her partner, if any): At birth the surrogate is recognised as the mother and her partner (if any) is recognised as the other parent. They are required to register the birth using her/their own details.
2. Intended parents: apply to the County Court of Victoria (External link) for a Substitute Parentage Order to change the details on the birth record.
   You must apply between 28 days and six months after the child's birth.
3. The County Court, if it approves the application, will send us the Substitute Parentage Order
4. Intended parents: BDM will contact you via email to register the birth.
   You can order a birth certificate at the time of registration or order one separately later.
   Once you have registered the birth, please notify BDM by email quoting the surrogacy reference number we will send you
5. BDM will close the original birth registration and create a new one showing the intended parent(s) as the child's parent(s).

For more information about surrogacy, see the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) (External link).