Code of Virginia § 20-165. Surrogate brokers prohibited; penalty; liability of surrogate brokers.

199 words·~1 min read·/va/title-20/chapter-9/20-165

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other entity to accept compensation for recruiting or procuring surrogates or to accept compensation for otherwise arranging or inducing an intended parent and surrogates to enter into surrogacy contracts in this Commonwealth. A violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. Any person who acts as a surrogate broker in violation of this section shall, in addition, be liable to all the parties to the purported surrogacy contract in a total amount equal to three times the amount of compensation to have been paid to the broker pursuant to the contract. One-half of the damages under this subsection shall be due the surrogate and her spouse, if any, and if such spouse is a party to the contract, and one-half shall be due the intended parent.

An action under this section shall be brought within five years of the date of the contract.

C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the services of an attorney in giving legal advice or in preparing a surrogacy contract.

1991, c. 600; 2010, c. 712 ; 2019, c. 375 ; 2020, c. 900 .