Yes, Rhode Island legalized compensated gestational surrogacy in 2023 under the Rhode Island Surrogacy Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-1 et seq.), effective January 1, 2024. The statute aligns with the Uniform Parentage Act (2017), providing enforceable contracts while prohibiting traditional surrogacy. The Rhode Island Department of Health’s Vital Records Division oversees birth certificate issuance for surrogate-born children, requiring pre-birth orders and genetic testing confirmation.
Key Regulations for Surrogacy in Rhode Island
- Gestational-only surrogacy permitted: Traditional surrogacy (using the surrogate’s own eggs) remains illegal under R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-3(a)(2). Only embryos created via IVF with the intended parents’ or donors’ gametes are permissible.
- Compensation caps and disclosures: Surrogacy contracts must specify non-binding, reasonable compensation (typically $30,000–$50,000) and require financial disclosures to the Rhode Island Family Court during pre-birth order proceedings (R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-10).
- Mandatory court approval: Intended parents must obtain a pre-birth order from the Family Court of the county where the surrogate resides, with jurisdiction over surrogacy agreements (R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-8.1-12). Post-birth adoption is prohibited for gestational surrogacy arrangements.