In the Matter of Baby M, a Pseudonym for an Actual Person

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the surrogacy contract was illegal and unenforceable because it conflicted with statutory prohibitions on payment for adoption and the statutory requirements for termination of parental rights; it restored the surrogate mother’s parental rights, affirmed custody of the child to the natural father based on the best‑interests standard, and remanded the visitation issue for further proceedings.