Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, one of Connecticut’s first full-service surrogacy matching agencies, helps intended parents across the globe build families through gestational surrogacy. We had the pleasure of connecting with Victoria T. Ferrara, a leading reproductive lawyer and Founder of Worldwide Surrogacy. Victoria not only helps intended parents navigate the entire surrogacy process, but she also helped forge a path for legal parentage in Connecticut through the historic Supreme Court case of Raftopol v. Ramey. This landmark decision ruled that an Intended Parent could assume all rights to a child through a gestational agreement, regardless of the genetic connection to the child born to the surrogate.
Check out our interview to learn more about Victoria’s own family building journey, the rewards of helping intended parents build their own, and helpful advice for those considering surrogacy.
Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists Founder and Legal Director Victoria T. Ferrara
1. What inspired you to work in the fertility industry?
I am gay and I have two children, one through assisted reproduction and one through adoption. I have been an “out” lawyer for over 30 years. In working with the gay community so closely, I became involved in family formation and assisted reproduction law. I now work with intended parents from throughout the world, both straight and gay intended parents, and I work with many fertility clinics throughout the United States.
2. We’d love to hear your story – can you share some highlights of the journey since opening in 2004?
I started informally and matched intended parents needing assistance with gestational surrogates I knew were looking to be matched with parents. It was so fulfilling to do this work that I organized the agency, Worldwide Surrogacy, and we have been growing ever since. I started out with just one person who was my right-hand person. This is Serena Lugo, a former surrogate, who is still with me today as a surrogate coordinator. Together we worked to bring people together to bring the intended parents’ babies into the world. We grew to the team we have today with 12 full-time and 7 part-time team members. We all totally love taking care of our parents and surrogates in this most important work.
Beautiful families, thanks to Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists
3. What has been your most rewarding experience personally over your years in this work?
Personally, I am overjoyed when I receive the pictures of the newborns with their grateful and joyful parents and their surrogate when they are at the hospital after the birth. I also find it rewarding to assist people when they are having struggles and I help them to stay positive and true to their vision and dream of having their children. Surrogacy is complex and I am grateful to be able to help people through their journeys.
More Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists families!
4. What is your advice for intended parents just beginning to consider surrogacy?
Although it is hard because of the unknowns that come with starting a surrogacy journey, it is so important for the intended parents to land with a professional team that they can trust and who inspires confidence in them. Trust and an open mind will be good attributes to bring to their surrogacy experiences.
5. Is there anything else you’d like to share about Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists?
The team at Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists is like a family. We are very close and we really understand the depth and importance of the work we are doing in helping to bring babies into the world. We bring our intended parents and surrogates into our family and treat them with the service, respect, attention and detail they deserve and need.
The Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists Team
Thank you for your insight, Victoria, your work in this field is impressive!
Ready to start your search for a surrogacy agency? Learn more about Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists and many other wonderful options, here.