Assisted Reproduction Attorney, Miller Johnson

While growing her family, Melissa Neckers and her husband experienced heartbreaking loss when their son, Stuart, was stillborn. Then desperate to have a healthy child, they also experienced infertility. As an attorney at Miller Johnson specializing in family law, Melissa realized she was in a unique position to understand the challenges presented by Michigan’s outdated and restrictive surrogacy and assisted reproduction laws.

In 2016, Melissa embarked on a mission for a more inclusive legal framework for families formed through surrogacy and assisted reproduction. Her efforts have transformed the legal landscape for surrogacy in Michigan, providing hope and support to countless families. Melissa represented Tammy and Jordan Myers in a widely publicized case in which the Myers were forced to adopt their biological children born via surrogate. Melissa’s commitment to changing Michigan surrogacy laws culminated in the passage of the Michigan Family Protection Act in April 2024, ensuring that surrogates, parents, and children are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Melissa shares, “If I waited for certainty, I’m not sure I’d ever feel confident enough to try. So instead, I analyze my options and try the one that seems most likely to succeed. If it doesn’t succeed, then I try something different. Because telling the parents of a newborn that I don’t have any way to get them on the birth certificate isn’t an option.”