For LGBTQ+ parents, securing legal parentage isn’t just a formality; it’s the foundation of family security, freedom to travel, and profound peace of mind. Vermont has emerged as a symbol of progress, enacting landmark legislation that dramatically simplifies this essential process.
Signed into law on May 22, 2025, by Governor Phil Scott, Vermont’s new Confirmatory Adoption Law (Bill H.98) is a victory for families formed through assisted reproduction.
It slashes outdated, invasive, and unnecessary hurdles, ensuring that non-genetic parents can confidently secure legal parentage that holds weight nationwide.
If you are part of a same-sex couple or planning to grow your family through assisted reproduction, this law doesn’t just offer a clearer path; it guarantees robust protection and lasting peace of mind.
A Revolutionary Change: Streamlining Parentage That Travels With You
Effective July 1, 2025, the new confirmatory adoption law establishes an expedited process for confirming existing parent-child relationships.
It directly addresses a critical vulnerability: while Vermont’s 2018 Parentage Act recognized non-biological parents, that recognition often lacked consistent weight outside the state.
An adoption decree, however, is a court order that must be recognized nationwide under the U.S. Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause.
Previously, even married non-gestational parents faced humiliating and intrusive requirements mirroring those for unrelated adoptions, including:
- Criminal background checks
- FBI fingerprinting
- In-home evaluations
- Mandatory in-person court appearances
These burdensome steps were not only expensive and time-consuming but also profoundly insulting to parents who had planned and welcomed their children into loving homes from the very beginning.
Vermont Leads the Way: How the New Law Transforms Your Journey
Under the updated law, parents already recognized under Vermont’s parentage statutes can confirm their parentage with astonishing simplicity, requiring only:
- A jointly signed petition for adoption
- A copy of their marriage certificate (if married)
- A statement describing the child’s birth via assisted reproduction and confirming mutual consent
- A certified copy of the child’s birth certificate
What’s Gone? The Barriers That Stood in Your Way:
- NO in-person court appearances (remote hearings only for limited, specific cases)
- NO intrusive home studies or background checks
- NO donor notification
- NO proof of the child’s residency with the petitioners
This transformative shift positions Vermont as the eleventh state to offer a streamlined confirmatory adoption process, joining a growing movement to guarantee that all families—regardless of structure—receive equal and unwavering legal recognition.
Why True Legal Confirmation Isn’t Just “Nice to Have”
In a national climate where LGBTQ+ rights are increasingly politicized, securing an adoption decree isn’t merely a formality; it’s your family’s strongest shield.
For families built through assisted reproduction involving egg, sperm, or embryo donation, an adoption decree eliminates any doubt or potential challenge when traveling across state lines, relocating, or facing medical emergencies.
At FSLG, we champion the profound importance of securing legal parentage through second-parent and stepparent adoptions.
These processes ensure that non-biological parents possess full, undeniable legal rights—from critical medical decision-making to secure inheritance and unquestionable custody—providing the ultimate layer of protection for your child’s well-being and your family’s future.
FSLG: Your Dedicated Partner in Securing Your Family’s Future
As a firm exclusively dedicated to assisted reproductive law, FSLG doesn’t just understand these legal nuances; we live and breathe them. Our experienced team is passionate about empowering families like yours to navigate legal complexities with absolute confidence.
We offer:
- Expert Guidance on Second-Parent Adoptions: Navigating tailored solutions in Vermont and across all applicable jurisdictions.
- Comprehensive Multi-State Parental Rights Solutions: From initial parentage orders to secure adoptions, ensuring your family is protected wherever life takes you.
- Empathetic & Inclusive LGBTQ+ Family-Building Services: Personalized legal strategies designed with your unique journey and future in mind.
Don’t leave your family’s security to chance. This new law in Vermont represents a powerful opportunity for permanent peace of mind.
Schedule a personalized consultation with FSLG today. Let us help you seize this opportunity, understand your rights, and secure your family’s future with the confidence and protection you deserve.
Rich Geisler is the principal and founder of Fertility & Surrogacy Legal Group, leveraging over a decade of expertise in fertility and third-party reproduction law to help clients worldwide build their families. A dedicated advocate and trusted advisor, Rich is an active member of the American Bar Association and a fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.
