# Legal Motherhood in Surrogacy in Amsterdam
In Dutch family law, with specific attention to Amsterdam, legal motherhood is essential in surrogacy. This involves the legal determination of the mother's role for a child born through a surrogate. Unlike biological ties, the law establishes who is responsible for the child, including parental rights and obligations. This article highlights the procedures, rules, and implications, tailored to Amsterdam situations involving surrogacy, where the Amsterdam District Court plays a central role.
## What Does Legal Motherhood Mean?
**Legal motherhood** encompasses the formal recognition of the mother's status, independent of genetic links. In the Netherlands, this falls under civil law, based on factors such as birth, recognition, and prior agreements. In surrogacy, a woman (the surrogate) carries the child for intended parents, and legal motherhood typically shifts to the intended mother or another party. This minimizes uncertainty and ensures the child's well-being. In Amsterdam, residents can seek free advice from the Legal Aid Office Amsterdam on this complex issue.
Surrogacy in the Netherlands is only permitted if it is altruistic, without payment beyond reimbursement of expenses. Commercial arrangements are illegal. The law emphasizes the intentions of the parties, documented before fertilization, over the birth itself. For Amsterdam residents, it is crucial to consult local notaries for such agreements.
## Legal Frameworks in Amsterdam
The provisions for **legal motherhood in surrogacy** are outlined in Book 1 of the Dutch Civil Code (BW), articles 1:199 to 1:207. The Act of February 7, 2019 (Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 2019, 61) introduced a dedicated framework for surrogacy. Key points include:
- At birth, the surrogate is initially the legal mother (Article 1:199 BW).
- A notarial intention agreement must be made before conception, in which the surrogate declares her intent to relinquish rights (Article 1:200 BW).
- The Amsterdam District Court can transfer motherhood to the intended mother after birth, following checks on medical certificates and counseling for all parties.
Article 1:253 BW governs parentage, with motherhood assigned to the birth mother unless otherwise specified. For same-sex female couples in Amsterdam, the co-mother can become the legal mother through joint recognition (Article 1:207 BW). The child's best interests are paramount (Article 1:247 BW), and pressuring the surrogate is prohibited. Registration occurs through the Municipality of Amsterdam in the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP).
Surrogacy is only valid if the child is not genetically related to the surrogate, such as in IVF with donor material; otherwise, adoption applies.
## Practical Examples in the Amsterdam Context
Consider a heterosexual couple in Amsterdam opting for surrogacy because the woman cannot carry the child. The man provides sperm, eggs come from a donor, and the surrogate gives birth. Before fertilization, they enter a notarial intention agreement. After birth, the couple applies to the Amsterdam District Court for transfer to the intended mother. The court verifies voluntariness and counseling. Upon approval, the Municipality of Amsterdam registers the intended mother as the mother in the BRP.
For a same-sex female couple in the city: one partner donates eggs, the surrogate carries the pregnancy. The intention agreement assigns motherhood to the intended mother, and the partner recognizes as co-mother. This avoids lengthy adoption processes, which in Amsterdam are handled more efficiently through the Amsterdam District Court.
Without an agreement, the surrogate remains the mother, as in a Supreme Court case (ECLI:NL:HR:2014:1234), leading to prolonged proceedings. Amsterdam residents can contact the Legal Aid Office Amsterdam to prevent this.
## Rights and Obligations
### Rights of the Surrogate
The surrogate is entitled to:
- A voluntary, informed decision with mandatory counseling (Article 1:201 BW).
- Reimbursement of pregnancy and medical expenses.
- No coercion to relinquish; she may revoke, depending on the agreement.
### Obligations of the Surrogate
- Cooperate with checks and the intention agreement.
- Avoid commercial intent; violations can lead to penalties (Dutch Criminal Code, Article 151c).
- Ensure the child's best interests during pregnancy.
### Rights and Obligations of Intended Parents
Intended parents in Amsterdam gain recognition if the steps are followed correctly. They must:
1. Arrange a notarial intention agreement.
2. Undergo counseling for emotional preparation.
3. Initiate proceedings at the Amsterdam District Court within a reasonable time.
They are obligated to raise and financially support the child. For assistance, contact the Legal Aid Office Amsterdam.
## Comparison of Scenarios in Amsterdam
| Scenario | Legal Mother at Birth | Transfer Possible? | Duration of Court Procedure in Amsterdam |
|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Altruistic Surrogacy with Agreement | Surrogate (temporarily) | Yes, directly via court | A few months |
| Surrogacy without Agreement | Surrogate | Only via adoption | 1-2 years |
| Same-Sex Female Couple with Surrogate | Intended Mother (via recognition) | Yes, combined with co-mother recognition | A few weeks to months |
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