Louisiana has one of the most restrictive legal environments for surrogacy in the United States. Under current law, only altruistic gestational surrogacy arrangements that meet specific criteria are permitted, and all compensated surrogacy contracts are considered unenforceable. Despite these limitations, intended parents who meet the state’s legal requirements can still pursue surrogacy safely and transparently—with proper legal guidance and a well-structured plan.

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Louisiana’s Gestational Carrier Act allows intended parents to enter into a surrogacy agreement only if:

• The intended parents are a married couple (man and woman) who each contribute their own genetic material, meaning the embryo must be created using both intended parents’ egg and sperm.

• The surrogate (gestational carrier) has no genetic relationship to the child.

• The agreement is approved by a Louisiana court before any medical procedures take place.

 

Because compensated surrogacy is not permitted, the surrogate may only receive reimbursement for reasonable medical and pregnancy-related expenses, not for additional compensation. All other types of surrogacy—such as traditional surrogacy or arrangements involving donor gametes—are not legally recognized under Louisiana law.

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Due to these restrictions, many intended parents who reside in Louisiana choose to complete part or all of their surrogacy journey in neighboring surrogacy-friendly states such as Texas, Florida, or Arkansas, where broader legal frameworks allow for compensated and inclusive arrangements.

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At Giving Tree Surrogacy, we help Louisiana-based intended parents understand their options clearly and make informed decisions that align with both their goals and the state’s legal boundaries. Our team collaborates closely with experienced reproductive law attorneys to ensure that all actions are compliant and that every step is handled with transparency, integrity, and care.