The recent Supreme Court decision ended the protection Roe v. Wade gave to women to control their own bodies. Not as widely recognized is the way in which this ruling also impacts people considering becoming parents through surrogacy and adoption. We interviewed Taiwanese American powerhouse attorney Evie Jeang whose practice specializes in these issues.
Born in Taiwan she moved to the United States at the age of 12 where she was raised by her grandparents. After graduating from law school and passing the bar, she refined her litigation skills in court, applying knowledge to practice while acquiring as many billable hours as possible. She is now the founder of Ideal Legal Group, practicing in the areas of international family and surrogacy law. Her skills have been featured in Forbes, CNBC and the LA Business Journal.
In our interview with Jeang, we wondered what made her choose founding her own firm rather than continue with the more traditional beginning.
“Over time I realized I really enjoyed family law. With about eight to ten years of legal experience under my belt, I felt that was a wise career move. I was very career focused and made the decision to freeze my eggs in my twenties. At that time found out I could not carry my own child because I had a grapefruit sized tumor in my uterus.”
With her impressive international legal background and her own experience of having a child via surrogate (her son Evan in 2014) she founded Surrogacy Concierge in Alhambra, California to help couples create families. Many LGBTQ couples have chosen Surrogacy Concierge because of their world class associates, hospitality professionals, legal professionals and medical professionals all of which are ready, willing and able to assist and ensure an effortless and confidential process.
She noted that Family Law problems are also resulting from the Roe v. Wade decision.
“Some of the immediate issues that that pop into my head is what constitutes as abortion aid and who would be considered an accomplice? Do contraceptives qualify as abortion? Another aspect to consider are unviable births or life-threatening complications for the mother. If the chances of the child surviving after birth is very low, due to genetic defect, is the surrogate mother still obligated to carry the pregnancy to full term? Are the parents not allowed the right to decide for their baby, or is the mother not allowed to make life-altering decisions for her own child/body?”
Jeang explained how the end of Roe v. Wade affects domestic surrogacy and adoption.
“Domestic surrogacy was already impacted last year in Texas when they passed the law that stated abortions are illegal after six weeks. Some women do not even yet realize they are pregnant until they are six plus weeks into the gestational calendar. With the end of Roe v. Wade, we will see the ripple effects across domestic surrogacy and adoption soon. Every gestational carrier agreement has a clause for abortion and the right to abortion. This decision by the Court will alter the industry; and international intended parents will reconsider their decision to pursue surrogacy in the United States.”
We wondered if arrangements for surrogacy or adoption always work out?
“Yes, most of the time. But I do warn my clients that they need to do their due diligence and put in the work. When arrangements fall apart, it’s usually because of a misunderstanding between the parties, misunderstanding of the agreement, and/or working with an unprofessional agency.”
She cited the unexpected cultural problems that intrude or interfere with international surrogacy and adoption.
“Most Asian countries, apart from Taiwan, still do not recognize same sex marriage. Asian counties still emphasize on the importance of traditional values. Single women are revered less than single men. With that said, surrogacy is not legal in Asia. Taiwan barely legalized same sex marriage in 2019, yet surrogacy is still illegal.”
We asked how the war in Ukraine is affecting international adoption and surrogacy. “There are children being born in Ukraine because of surrogacy. Intended parents are not allowed entry into the country and babies are not allowed to leave the country. It’s been difficult for many intended parents and babies to be reunited. This is the same for adoption. I had multiple clients who could not gain access to the country whose surrogates had delivered their babies. There was a lot of unease and tension during the first year of the pandemic. International adoption is now more difficult than ever and will remain so for the foreseeable future.”
Were there legal problems which became more prevalent during Covid? “Without a doubt, there was a dramatic increase in domestic violence cases. According to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine domestic violence case increased by 25-33% globally in 2020. This was a direct consequence of abusers and abusees quarantining together, financial stress, childcare or a combination or everything.”
Do clients have unrealistic expectations of what a lawyer or even the law itself can accomplish? “Yes, clients retain attorneys with the expectation that we’re also their friend and/or therapist. Some attorneys are ok with this type of relationship. However, personally it does not suit me. I prefer to establish clear work boundaries between my clients and my personal life.”
Are there aftereffects if a divorce that fall to the lawyer to resolve? “I tell my clients all the time that attorneys are not licensed therapists. We are not trained to provide adequate therapy and counseling for our clients. Rather, our job is to help our clients navigate through the legal procedures and to make the process as smooth as possible for the parties and children.”
Are there emotional issues a lawyer personally encounters when working with families seeking surrogacy or adoption? “I emphasize with my surrogacy clients a lot. I went through surrogacy myself so I know how much of a rollercoaster the journey can be. It’s not easy at all. I can see how desperately my clients want to have a baby. It can be daunting and disheartening to go through multiple rounds of IVF. It does take a toll on me as an attorney as well because I want the best for my clients.”
Do you have time or even the opportunity to enjoy the results of successful arrangements you make for adoption or surrogacy? “Yes. I do make it a point to follow up with my clients at the end of their journey. I’ve received pictures and updates of the babies throughout the years.”
What is the hardest thing to deal with?
“The unknown and unpredictability of surrogacy. Everyone in this field will tell you there are no guarantees.”
Jeang has been a lifelong supporter and advocate for women empowerment. She believes in equal rights and opportunities for women. She has her own podcast “Evie Unbounded” dedicated to enlightenment, spirituality, work-life balance, women equality and much more.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Elaine Madsen
- Photography
- Brooke Mason Photography
