IVF Daddies
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Governance · Standards · v2026.1.7
Governance Principles
IVF Daddies supports a structure-first approach to assisted reproduction. These principles apply across jurisdictions. They are not regulatory mandates, they are structural standards that map the operational layer of ethical surrogacy and IVF arrangements.
Definition
Governance principles in assisted reproduction are structural standards that define ethical practice independent of jurisdiction-specific statutes. They address the separation of financial, legal, and matching functions, the transparency of capacity and consent, and the integrity of parentage planning processes.
1.Independent Legal Representation
LegalAll parties in a surrogacy arrangement, intended parents and gestational carrier, are best served by independent legal counsel licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Shared representation creates structural conflicts that are not in any party's interest.
2.Financial Separation and Auditable Escrow
FinancialIntended parent funds designated for surrogate compensation, medical costs, and ancillary expenses should be held by a third-party escrow provider, legally segregated from agency operating accounts. Commingling is a documented risk factor in agency insolvency events.
3.Jurisdiction-Aware Parentage Planning
LegalLegal parentage outcomes depend on the birth state, family structure, genetic connection, and applicable court procedures. Parentage strategy should be established before embryo transfer, not after pregnancy is confirmed.
4.Transparent Clinical Coordination
ClinicalFertility clinics participating in third-party reproduction arrangements should operate within published ASRM guidance and maintain clear written protocols for multi-party consent, embryo disposition, and surrogate medical oversight.
5.Concurrency Transparency
OperationalAgencies and coordinators managing multiple simultaneous arrangements should disclose their active case volumes on request. Capacity concealment is a structural variable that affects timelines, coordination quality, and consent integrity.
What These Principles Are Not
- They are not legal advice, individual circumstances require independent legal counsel.
- They are not regulatory mandates, they reflect structural best practices, not enforceable law.
- They do not substitute for jurisdiction-specific guidance, each state and country has its own legal framework.
Related Governance Pages
Surrogacy Governance, regulatory layer map →Parentage Governance, securing the legal bond →Open Letter to the Surrogacy Industry, minimum standards published →← Back to Fertility ExplainedCitation: IVF Daddies. Governance Principles. https://ivfdaddies.com/governance-principles. v2026.1.7. Published 2026-02-18.