LFLR 22. Surrogacy Agreements
(a) Gestational and Genetic Surrogacy. An action related to a surrogacy agreement pursuant to RCW 26.26A.700-785 is commenced by filing a petition under a new cause number. All cases issued under this section will be assigned to the Chief Unified Family Court Judge.
(1) All motions, including agreed motions, regarding surrogacy agreements or establishment of parentage pursuant to a surrogacy agreement shall be noted for hearing before the Chief Unified Family Court Judge without oral argument. The moving party shall note the hearing on an approved Notice of Court Date form no later than 14 days in advance of the hearing date. The moving party shall serve and file all motion documents and submit working copies no later than 14 days in advance of the hearing date. If requested by the Chief Unified Family Court Judge, a hearing may be rescheduled to permit oral argument on the motion or it may be rescheduled to a different judicial officer designated by the Chief Unified Family Court Judge.
(2) If the Chief Unified Family Judge certifies the matter for trial, the petitioner shall promptly contact the assigned judge to schedule a LCR 16 conference.
(b) Genetic Surrogacy. The following provisions apply only to Genetic Surrogacy.
(1) Termination of Agreement. If an order validating a genetic surrogacy agreement is signed by the court and the parties subsequently terminate the agreement, the parties shall file a notice of termination of agreement under the same cause of action as the order validating the genetic surrogacy agreement.
(2) Motion to Decide Parentage. After a child is born pursuant to a genetic surrogacy agreement and order validating the genetic surrogacy agreement, parties will file a motion to decide parentage under the same cause of action as the order validating the genetic surrogacy agreement. The motion shall be noted as provided in subsection (b).
[Adopted effective September 1, 2020.]