In 2010, California bill 2426 was signed into law, specifying how funds for surrogacy and egg donation must be managed in the state.
California Family Code Section 7961 requires that client funds for assisted reproduction be deposited into one of two specific accounts: (1) An independent, bonded escrow depository maintained by a licensed, independent, bonded escrow company, or (2) A trust account maintained by an attorney.
Client-trust accounts held by attorneys are regulated by the California State Bar, to which each attorney is accountable. In addition, the California State Bar has created the Client Security Fund, which protects clients against financial losses from dishonest conduct.
Law firms have no financial interest in holding accounts for clients.
We ask our clients to deposit all funds, prior to cycle commencement, directly into a California State Bar attorney-client trust account managed by Surrogacy & Fertility Escrow (SAFE).