Key aspects in process
After returning home, we are still finalising the legal and organisational steps connected with our journey to parenthood. And while the emotional side was the most overwhelming, the legal side proved to be just as important.
In Georgia, surrogacy is clearly regulated by law.
This means that all contracts, the child’s birth certificate and subsequent
paperwork are issued in accordance with legislation. It is important to be
prepared that this is not just a single document, but an entire package
requiring translations, notarisation, and proper submission. Here, the support
of lawyers and the agency was invaluable. They explained every step, guided us
through the process, and gave us confidence that no detail was overlooked.
Another key aspect is reporting. Even after
discharge from the clinic, the agency continues to keep records of all
expenses, provide receipts, and give transparent explanations for every
payment. This transparency gave us peace of mind — we could see exactly how
funds were used and knew everything was handled responsibly.
We also want to highlight the care shown to the
surrogate mother. For 40 days after the birth, both the clinic and the agency
monitor her health. If needed, she is provided with necessary medicines and
vitamins free of charge. This is not only a legal requirement but also a sign
of humanity and respect towards the woman who helped us become parents.
Yes, the bureaucracy at times felt exhausting —
signatures, notaries, translations. But thanks to the professionals guiding us
“by the hand”, we always felt supported. And today, being at home with our
little one, we understand: this system is designed to protect everyone involved
and to allow new parents to begin family life with peace of mind.
Checklist for Future Parents in Georgia:
- Choose an
experienced agency — they
are your guide through legal, medical, and organisational matters.
- Be prepared
for a full set of documents
— translations, notarisation, apostille. It takes time but is essential.
- Rely on
lawyers — they will ensure
no detail is missed and explain the legal language clearly.
- Insist on
transparent reporting —
every expense should be supported by receipts and explanations.
- Check the
postnatal care — for 40 days
the clinic and agency should provide follow-up and support for the
surrogate mother.
- Plan your
time carefully — from the
birth to returning home may take several weeks, so include this in your
schedule.
Really interesting! How long did it actually take you to get all the paperwork sorted after your little one was born?
ВідповістиВидалитиThank you) In our case around three weeks. That included the birth certificate, translations, notarisation, and getting the baby’s passport.
ВидалитиThat’s very helpful. When we went through it last year, it took us almost a month — mostly waiting for the passport.
ВидалитиWho covers the postnatal care for the surrogate mother?
ВідповістиВидалитиThe clinic and the agency cover it fully. For 40 days she’s given medicines and vitamins free of charge if needed. Knowing she was well looked after meant a lot to us.
ВидалитиThanks for your story and information. How long did you actually need to stay in Georgia after the birth?
ВідповістиВидалитиThank you, Marina! We stayed just under a month. It depends on how quickly the documents and passport are processed, so we’d suggest allowing extra time in your plans.
ВидалитиWe stayed for three weeks. Our embassy was slower than expected with the passport so it’s definitely wise to plan for delays
ВидалитиCongrats with happy finish!
ВідповістиВидалитиDid you find any part of the legal side particularly overwhelming?
Thank you! Yes, especially the translations and notarised documents. But the lawyers and agency explained everything step by step. Our advice is: never be afraid to ask even the smallest questions.
ВидалитиDo you recommend choosing the agency on your own, or is it better to just go with the clinic’s suggestion?
ВідповістиВидалитиHola! Do you recommend choosing the agency on your own, or is it better to just go with the clinic’s suggestion?
ВідповістиВидалитиHola, Juan! We chose independently, based on recommendations from other parents and reviews. The clinic did provide names, but the final decision was ours
ВидалитиWe did the opposite — trusted the clinic’s suggestion — and it worked well too. I think the key is to feel comfortable and ask for references before committing.
ВидалитиHow did the expense reporting work? Was it actually transparent?
ВідповістиВидалитиHi! we received copies of receipts and clear explanations for every cost. That transparency made us feel very secure.
ВидалитиSame for us. I even kept a little folder with all the receipts the agency gave — it made everything so much clearer.
Видалитиnever be afraid to ask even the smallest questions. We nearly missed a deadline for an apostille because we didn't understand the process - thankfully, the agency caught it in time.
ВідповістиВидалитиThank you for posting! We’re seriously considering Georgia, but we’re unsure how long the paperwork takes after the baby’s birth. Could you share how many weeks you needed before returning home? We want to plan our stay realistically and make sure we don’t miss any important steps in the process
ВідповістиВидалитиHi, Jugo! It took us around three and a half weeks from birth to departure — birth certificate, translations, and notarisations included. Timelines vary by embassy, but your agency will help coordinate everything.
ВидалитиThree weeks sounds right — our experience was similar
ВідповістиВидалитиWe’ve been researching surrogacy in different countries and Georgia now feels like a serious option. However, our main concern is how the legal documents issued there are recognised back home. Did your local authorities or embassy accept the Georgian birth certificate without problems? We’ve heard that some countries can be very strict with foreign paperwork, especially when it involves translations and apostilles. It would help us a lot to know how you handled this part, since it’s crucial for ensuring both parents are legally recognised once we return home.
ВідповістиВидалитиWe’re at the very beginning of our journey and your post gave us a lot of clarity. Georgia sounds like a great option, especially because everything is regulated by law. However, we’re a bit worried about understanding the legal documents correctly — neither of us speaks Georgian. Could you recommend any lawyers or legal consultants who speak English or Polish? We really want to make sure that every contract and translation is perfectly understood before signing anything. Clear communication with professionals seems absolutely essential for a smooth process.
ВідповістиВидалитиHi, Hanna! Good question. Many Georgian agencies collaborate with English-speaking lawyers, and some even have Polish consultants. We can share a contact privately
ВидалитиTotally agree — bilingual support changes everything
ВидалитиThe part about transparent reporting really stood out for us. We’ve heard stories from other countries where unexpected “extra fees” suddenly appear near the end of the process, and that’s something we want to avoid. Could you share how detailed your agency’s financial reports were? Did you receive regular breakdowns of expenses — like monthly statements — or only one summary after everything was completed? Knowing what to expect financially would help us plan our budget much more confidently.
ВідповістиВидалитиHi, Sara! We got monthly itemised reports with receipts and a full financial summary afterward. That transparency made us feel very secure. Clear reporting builds trust. It’s essential.
ВидалитиMost updates came through the agency — they made sure she had full medical support. We also sent her a thank-you letter and small gift; it was deeply emotional for everyone involved.
ВидалитиSomebody worked with any agencies? I'm curious 'bout lowyer support and donor base.. please share you experience. Thank you )
ВідповістиВидалитиAfter much reading and conversations with other couples in forums, several mentioned working with Gestlife, especially for processes in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. They cited it as one of the few agencies with a real presence in the countries where they operate and a dedicated support team. We haven't made a decision yet, but we have a video call scheduled with them to see how they work. Has anyone else recently gone through the entire process with Gestlife? It would be very helpful to know the real pros and cons, without any filtering.
ВидалитиHi! I have a slightly different question: how long did it take you to receive the temporary passport for your baby? I've seen testimonials saying it can take between 4 and 6 weeks, but that seems like a very long time. We're planning our trip and don't know how many days to book.
ВідповістиВидалити