Surrogacy in Tasmania

Surrogacy in Tasmania is regulated by the Surrogacy Act 2012.

If you are new to surrogacy, you can read about how to find a surrogate, or how to become a surrogate yourself. You can also download the free Surrogacy Handbook which explains the processes and options. You can also read a broad overview of surrogacy in Australia.

You can also purchase Sarah’s book, More Than Just a Baby: A Guide to Surrogacy for Intended Parents and Surrogates, the only guide to surrogacy in Australia.

The criteria for surrogacy in Tasmania includes:

• The intended parents must have a social or medical need for surrogacy. This includes singles and couples who cannot conceive or carry a baby themselves. You can read more about qualifying for surrogacy in Australia.
  .
• That the birth mother is over 25 years of age.
  .
• The birth mother has given birth to her own live child.
  .
• Each party to the surrogacy arrangement, at the time the arrangement was entered into, is resident in Tasmania.
  .
• Each of the intended parents must be at least 21 years of age.
  .
• That the arrangement is altruistic. The intended parents must cover the birth mother’s out of pocket expenses in accordance with the law. Commercial surrogacy is illegal.
  .
• That the parties have undergone counselling about the arrangement with a qualified counsellor.
  .
• That the parties have obtained legal advice about the arrangement.
  .
• There must be a written Surrogacy Agreement signed by all the parties.

If you are a surrogate living in Tasmania, you can carry for intended parents who live outside Tasmania. However, Tasmanian intended parents are limited to finding a surrogate who also lives in Tasmania.

It is illegal to advertise for a surrogacy in Tasmania, and it is illegal for someone to publish anything that indicates they are willing to be a surrogate for someone else. Read more about how you can find a surrogate in Australia.

You can read about the steps to follow once you have a surrogate.

If you are considering becoming a surrogate, you can read more about that here.

If you would like to know more about how surrogacy works in Australia and Tasmania, you might like to download the Surrogacy Handbook, or book in for a consult with Sarah below. You can also hear stories from intended parents and surrogates on the Surrogacy Podcast.

If you’re from another state, you can find all the details of the surrogacy laws that apply to you.

Sarah can assist with surrogacy arrangements across all States, including Tasmania and cross-border arrangements. You can contact me here. All consults are conducted over Zoom and email.