Anthony Raftopol v. Karma A. Ramey

Summary

The court held that a Superior Court had subject matter jurisdiction to declare the legal parentage of children born under a valid gestational agreement and that termination of the gestational carrier's parental rights was unnecessary because she had no parental rights in the children. It further held that, under General Statutes § 7-48a, an intended parent who is not biologically related to the children may acquire legal parentage through a valid gestational agreement without adoption and may be named on a replacement birth certificate. The judgment was affirmed. Zarella, J., concurring, agreed with the result but would have treated the statute as plain and criticized the majority's reliance on legislative history and its guidance to the legislature.