All Comparison Tables
Surrogacy Enforceability by State
Federal & State Law Editorial TeamLast reviewed: October 2026
A state-by-state breakdown of whether gestational and traditional surrogacy contracts are legally enforceable, whether compensation to the surrogate is permitted, and the controlling statute or leading case. Gestational surrogacy (surrogate has no genetic tie) is treated more favorably than traditional surrogacy (surrogate is also the genetic mother) in virtually every jurisdiction.
50 States4 data columnsLast updated: 2026-05-23
Click any column header to sort ascending or descending. Click again to reverse, and a third time to reset.
| State | Gestational Surrogacy Contracts Enforceable | Traditional Surrogacy Contracts Enforceable | Compensation Allowed | Statute / Case Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Yes | No | Permitted; statute | A.R.S. §§ 25-218.01–25-218.03 (2021); traditional surrogacy contracts void under A.R.S. § 25-218 (pre-2021) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-201 (intended parents presumed legal parents in gestational surrogacy) |
| — | Yes | Yes | Permitted; statute | Cal. Fam. Code §§ 7960–7962 (gestational carrier agreements); Johnson v. Calvert, 5 Cal. 4th 84 (1993) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 19-4-106, 19-4-116 (Uniform Parentage Act 2017) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 7-48a, 45a-775–45a-780 (gestational agreements; pre-birth orders authorized) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Del. Code Ann. tit. 13, §§ 8-801–8-809 (Uniform Parentage Act 2013) |
| — | Yes | No | Permitted; statute | Fla. Stat. §§ 742.15–742.16 (gestational surrogacy); § 63.212(1)(i) prohibits compensated traditional surrogacy |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; In re Moschetta, 25 Cal. App. 4th 1218 (1994) not binding |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 572C-1–572C-5 (Uniform Parentage Act 2015, gestational surrogacy chapter enacted 2015) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | 750 ILCS 47/1–47/75 (Gestational Surrogacy Act 2004) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | No | — | Ind. Code § 31-20-1-1 (surrogate agreements void and unenforceable); gestational contracts in legal gray area post-void provision |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; KRS § 199.590(4) bars paid surrogate advertising |
| — | Limited | No | Prohibited | La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 9:2718–9:2720.15 (2016); compensated gestational surrogacy void; altruistic contracts may be recognized |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, §§ 1931–1938 (Parentage Act 2016, gestational carrier agreements enforceable) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law §§ 1-306–1-320 (Maryland Family Law Act, gestational surrogacy enacted 2021) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 46, § 4B; Culliton v. Beth Israel Deaconess Med. Ctr., 435 Mass. 285 (2001); Mass. Parentage Act signed 2024 |
| — | No | No | Prohibited | MCL §§ 722.851–722.863 (Surrogate Parenting Act; all surrogacy contracts void; participating parties subject to criminal fines) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; In re Baby M (NJ, 1988) referenced in practice; no MN Supreme Court ruling |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; Mo. Rev. Stat. § 210.824 bars payment in adoption context (indirect impact) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | No | — | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,200 (1988) (surrogate parenting contracts void); gestational contracts in legal gray area |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 126.500–126.810 (Uniform Parentage Act 2013, gestational carrier agreements) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 168-B:1–168-B:32 (Surrogacy Act; gestational and some genetic surrogacy agreements enforceable) |
| — | Yes | Limited | Permitted; statute | N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 9:17-60–9:17-84 (New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act 2018); In re Baby M, 109 N.J. 396 (1988) voided traditional paid contracts |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Yes | No | Permitted; statute | N.Y. Fam. Ct. Act §§ 581-101–581-702 (Child-Parent Security Act, effective Feb. 15, 2021); Dom. Rel. Law § 123 still voids traditional surrogacy contracts |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; courts have issued pre-birth orders on equitable grounds |
| — | Uncertain — common law | No | — | N.D. Cent. Code § 14-18-05 (surrogate parenting agreements void); gestational contracts in legal gray area |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; Belsito v. Clark, 67 Ohio Misc. 2d 54 (1994) recognized gestational intent parentage |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Okla. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 7800–7809 (Gestational Agreement Act 2019) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 109.243–109.247 (Uniform Parentage Act 2013; pre-birth orders routinely granted) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; J.F. v. D.B., 897 A.2d 1261 (Pa. Super. 2006) discussed enforceability without clear resolution |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 15-8.1-601–15-8.1-612 (Uniform Parentage Act 2020, gestational carrier agreements) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute; Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(48) adoption provisions may affect surrogate parental rights |
| — | Yes | No | Permitted; statute | Tex. Fam. Code §§ 160.751–160.763 (Gestational Agreement; court must validate before embryo transfer); traditional agreements not covered |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Utah Code Ann. §§ 78B-15-801–78B-15-809 (Uniform Parentage Act 2005, gestational agreements) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 15C, §§ 701–711 (Vermont Parentage Act 2018, gestational carrier agreements) |
| — | Yes | Limited | Permitted; statute | Va. Code Ann. §§ 20-156–20-165 (Assisted Conception Act; court pre-approval required; traditional surrogacy included with restrictions) |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 26.26A.700–26.26A.785 (Uniform Parentage Act 2018, gestational carrier agreements enforceable) |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Uncertain — common law | No | — | Wis. Stat. § 69.14(1)(h) and adoption statutes may void surrogate arrangements; gestational contracts in legal gray area |
| — | Uncertain — common law | Uncertain — common law | — | Common law; no specific statute |
| — | Yes | Uncertain — common law | Permitted; statute | D.C. Code §§ 16-401–16-412 (District of Columbia Collaborative Reproduction Act 2017) |
State surrogacy law is rapidly evolving — recently-enacted statutes may not yet appear here, and case-law developments can change enforceability between updates. Always verify the current law before entering into a surrogacy arrangement. This is legal information, not legal advice.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.