In Massachusetts, intended parents establish legal parentage primarily through the process of obtaining pre-birth parentage orders, as outlined in the Massachusetts Parentage Act (H.1713/S.947). These laws allow for pre-birth orders to be granted to any intended parent, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or genetic connection to the child. The process involves filing a petition with the court that details the surrogacy agreement. The court reviews the petition and, upon finding it in compliance with Massachusetts’s surrogacy laws and the child’s best interests, issues an order recognizing the intended parents as the legal parents.
