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Take ActionSouth Carolina Surrogacy Law
Summary: There are no provisions in South Carolina law regarding surrogacy, but the limited case law indicates an acceptance of surrogacy contracts. The issue of surrogacy agreements involving lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) individuals has not yet been considered by the courts.
Explanation: A 2003 Federal District Court case did not directly deal with the validity of surrogacy agreements; instead it dealt with the status (with regard to an insurance policy) of a child born out of a surrogacy agreement. The husband of the surrogate sought coverage for the child under his insurance policy’s coverage of a “natural child.” The Court gave great deference to the terms of the surrogacy contract and the stipulations by the parties therein regarding the legal status of the adults and child involved. The Court found that the child was not the “natural child” of the surrogate’s husband, based largely on statements to that effect in the surrogacy contract. While the holding does not speak directly to the legitimacy of surrogacy arrangements in South Carolina, the Court clearly assumed that such an arrangement was not contrary to state law when it showed such deference to its terms.
There is no explicit prohibition in South Carolina on LGBT couples jointly adopting a child, nor is there an explicit prohibition on LGBT individuals adopting the child of their same-sex partner.
Citations: Mid-South Ins. Co. v. Doe, 274 F.Supp.2d 757 (D.S.C. 2003).
The legal information provided on this page is provided as a courtesy to the public. It is not designed to serve as legal advice. HRC does not warrant that this information is current or comprehensive.
Last Updated: 9/10/2009
Updated: Wed, September 09, 2009 - 11:00:07
