Surrogacy is a story of hope, generosity and family. It’s a belief that families are created through love, intention, and the willingness to show up for one another in extraordinary ways.
Last year, with the support of my husband Michael, I acted as a surrogate for close friends. After delivering a healthy baby and helping our friends realise their dream of having a family, we wanted to help others in our community to navigate surrogacy law. For us, it was much more than something nice to do; it was an obligation. As a family, and as a firm, we believe that those who can, must.
“Until you experience it, you don’t realise how complex the system is”
Before we went through the surrogacy process ourselves, we didn’t fully grasp how complex surrogacy in Australia really is. There are so many obstacles, layers, uncertainties, and moments where you find yourself questioning what comes next. Fortunately, my husband Michael and I have legal knowledge and access to support. But, even from that position of strength, there were times when the journey felt overwhelming.
For those who don’t work in law, I can see how it could become too much—how that hope could be paused, or abandoned, because it feels too difficult to navigate.
And that’s the part that stays with me.
“We can offer practical steps to make the path clearer for someone else”
There are ways to change the system to help make surrogacy more accessible, and therefore more viable, for families in Australia. You can write submissions to the Australian Law Reform Commission, advocate for reform, and speak publicly about what needs to change. Every voice matters. I’ve done that, and I’ll continue to do that. But there are also smaller, more immediate ways we can help. Our firm can offer practical steps that can make the path feel clearer for someone else.
Introducing surrogacy legal services to clients of our firm means we can now support surrogates and intended parents with informed and considered legal guidance, backed by Michael’s experience and upskilling in this area.
“I’ll never forget the moment our friends held their daughter for the first time”
Our experience was shaped by something incredibly powerful. I’ll never forget the moment our friends held their daughter for the first time: the joy, the relief, the overwhelming sense that everything had led to that moment. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to be part of that—to know you have helped create a family.
It’s also hard to accept that moments like that are not more accessible for other families.
Surrogacy in Australia is still governed by laws that do not reflect the realities of modern families or the experiences of those who walk this path. While there has been progress, change takes time.
So, we wait with hope.
In the meantime, I come back to that belief: those who can, must.
Michael and I have been incredibly fortunate in our own journey to parenthood, and the legal profession has given us opportunities, support, and perspective. With that comes a sense of responsibility to use what we have and what we know to help others.
If sharing our experience, introducing surrogacy law to our firm, and being part of this space helps even one family’s dream come true, then it’s worth it.
Kayla Seton
Founder & People and Culture Consultant
Seton Family Lawyers
