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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64023</law_id><section_number>20-158</section_number><catch_line>Parentage of child resulting from assisted conception</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-349</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Status of Children of Assisted Conception</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Determination of parentage, generally. &#x2014; Except as provided in subsections B, C, D, and E, the parentage of any child resulting from the performance of <span class="dictionary">assisted conception</span> shall be determined as follows: <a id="paragraph-233121" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span> of a child is the child&#x2019;s mother. <a id="paragraph-233122" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The spouse of the <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span> of a child is the child&#x2019;s other parent, notwithstanding any declaration of invalidity or <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> of the marriage obtained after the performance of <span class="dictionary">assisted conception</span>, unless such spouse commences an action in which the mother and child are parties within two years after such spouse discovers or, in the exercise of due diligence, reasonably should have discovered the child&#x2019;s birth and in which it is determined that such spouse did not consent to the performance of <span class="dictionary">assisted conception</span>. <a id="paragraph-233123" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A <span class="dictionary">donor</span> is not the parent of a child conceived through <span class="dictionary">assisted conception</span>, unless the <span class="dictionary">donor</span> is the spouse of the <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span>. <a id="paragraph-233124" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Death of spouse. &#x2014; Any child resulting from the insemination of a <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">ovum</span> using her spouse&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">sperm</span>, with his consent, is the child of the <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span> and her spouse notwithstanding that, during the 10-month period immediately preceding the birth, either <span class="dictionary">party</span> died.
			However, any person who dies before in utero implantation of an <span class="dictionary">embryo</span> resulting from the union of the spouse&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">sperm</span> or <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">ovum</span> with another <span class="dictionary">gamete</span>, whether or not the other <span class="dictionary">gamete</span> is that of the person&#x2019;s spouse, is not the parent of any resulting child unless (i) implantation occurs before notice of the death can reasonably be communicated to the physician performing the procedure or (ii) the person consents to be a parent in writing executed before the implantation. <a id="paragraph-233125" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Divorce. &#x2014; Any child resulting from insemination of a <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">ovum</span> using her spouse&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">sperm</span>, with his consent, is the child of the <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span> and her spouse notwithstanding that either <span class="dictionary">party</span> filed for a divorce or <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> during the 10-month period immediately preceding the birth. Any person who is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to an action for divorce or <span class="dictionary">annulment</span> commenced by filing before in utero implantation of an <span class="dictionary">embryo</span> resulting from the union of the spouse&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">sperm</span> or <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">ovum</span> with another <span class="dictionary">gamete</span>, whether or not the other <span class="dictionary">gamete</span> is that of the person&#x2019;s spouse, is not the parent of any resulting child unless (i) implantation occurs before notice of the filing can reasonably be communicated to the physician performing the procedure or (ii) the person consents in writing to be a parent, whether the writing was executed before or after the implantation. <a id="paragraph-233126" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Birth pursuant to <span class="dictionary">court</span> approved <span class="dictionary">surrogacy contract</span>. &#x2014; After approval of a <span class="dictionary">surrogacy contract</span> by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> and entry of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> as provided in subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Petition and hearing for court approval of surrogacy contract; requirements; orders" href="/20-160/">20-160</a>, the <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is the parent of any resulting child. However, if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> vacates the <span class="dictionary">order</span> approving the agreement pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Termination of court-approved surrogacy contract" href="/20-161/">20-161</a>, the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> who is the <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span> is the mother of the resulting child and her spouse, if any, is the other parent. The <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> may only obtain parental rights through adoption as provided in Chapter 12 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Who may place children for adoption" href="/63.2-1200/">63.2-1200</a> et seq.) of Title 63.2. <a id="paragraph-233127" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Birth pursuant to <span class="dictionary">surrogacy contract</span> not approved by <span class="dictionary">court</span>. &#x2014; In the case of a <span class="dictionary">surrogacy contract</span> that has not been approved by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Petition and hearing for court approval of surrogacy contract; requirements; orders" href="/20-160/">20-160</a>, the parentage of any resulting child shall be determined as follows: <a id="paragraph-233128" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">gestational mother</span> is the child&#x2019;s mother unless the intended mother is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span>, in which case the intended mother is the mother. <a id="paragraph-233129" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#E1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If an <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span> of the resulting child, such <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is the child&#x2019;s parent. However, if (i) the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span>, (ii) the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> is married and her spouse is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">surrogacy contract</span>, and (iii) the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> who is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span> exercises her right to retain <span class="dictionary">custody</span> and parental rights to the resulting child pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Contracts not approved by the court; requirements" href="/20-162/">20-162</a>, then the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> and her spouse are the parents. If the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> is unmarried and (a) is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span>, (b) is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the <span class="dictionary">surrogacy contract</span>, and (c) exercises her right to retain <span class="dictionary">custody</span> and parental rights to the resulting child pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Contracts not approved by the court; requirements" href="/20-162/">20-162</a>, then the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> is the parent. <a id="paragraph-233130" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If no <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span> of the resulting child, but the <span class="dictionary">embryo</span> that was used is subject to the <span class="dictionary">legal or contractual custody</span> of an <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span>, then such <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is the parent. However, if no <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is a <span class="dictionary">genetic parent</span>, and the <span class="dictionary">embryo</span> that was used is not subject to the <span class="dictionary">legal or contractual custody</span> of such <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span>, then the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> is the mother and her spouse, if any, is the child&#x2019;s other parent if such other parent is a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the contract. In such an event, the <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> may only obtain parental rights through adoption as provided in Chapter 12 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Who may place children for adoption" href="/63.2-1200/">63.2-1200</a> et seq.) of Title 63.2. <a id="paragraph-233131" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#E3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> After the signing and filing of the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> consent and report form in conformance with the requirements of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Contracts not approved by the court; requirements" href="/20-162/">20-162</a>, the <span class="dictionary">intended parent</span> is the parent of the child and the <span class="dictionary">surrogate</span> and her spouse, if any, shall not be the parents of the child. <a id="paragraph-233132" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/20-158/#E4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1991, c. 600; 1997, c. 81; 2000, c. 830; 2019, c. 375.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
