Episode 40: The Legal Side of Building Your Family with Janene Oleaga

In this episode Jennifer talks with Janene Oleaga, a family formation lawyer and reproductive rights advocate, about the legal side of building a family through assisted reproduction. Janene demystifies the role of a reproductive attorney and offers clear, grounding guidance for anyone navigating surrogacy, egg donation or donor conception.

 Key Topics Discussed:

• Janene explains what a reproductive attorney does and why reaching out before you begin your family-building journey - before selecting a surrogate, donor, or signing with an agency - can make a meaningful difference.
• She describes what to expect from an initial consultation, and why her goal is for clients to leave feeling informed and more settled amid the uncertainty of the fertility journey.
• Surrogacy law is governed at the state level and varies widely. Janene breaks down what that means for intended parents, especially when surrogacy arrangements cross state lines.
• She walks through what a gestational surrogacy agreement covers and why she describes it as the roadmap for the entire journey, from embryo transfer through establishing legal parentage.
• Janene addresses surrogacy in the news honestly, distinguishing between bad actors and the hundreds of ethical arrangements that never make headlines.
• For those using an egg or sperm donor, Janene explains the difference between closed, semi-open and fully open arrangements, and why true anonymity is no longer a realistic promise in the age of consumer genetic testing.
• She offers practical guidance on how to find a reproductive attorney, what questions to ask, and why - beyond credentials - trusting your gut matters most when building your team.
• Janene speaks to the importance of legislative advocacy and reminds listeners that your personal story is your most powerful tool when talking to representatives.

 Resources Mentioned:

• Oleaga Law LLC
• AllPaths Family Building
• American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA)
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
• New England Fertility Society (NEFS)
• The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS)

Connect with Janene Oleaga:

• IVFESQ.com
• Instagram: @IVFESQ
  

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhcI