The Thomases would help with moving expenses as part of the surrogacy agreement. Belinda, who runs a relocation company, lined up a furnished apartment for the Gibsons. For the Thomases, having the Gibsons in town meant less travel and more contact with the woman they hoped would give birth for them. Not long after their visit, the Gibsons were back in Charlotte to stay. Lisa still planned to return to Florida to have the baby.
Laws there acknowledge surrogacy contracts, while North Carolina has no such law.
The Thomases found a Florida lawyer who specializes in surrogacy and had her draw up a contract. Regardless of state laws, a court battle over surrogacy can rip both families apart. Ideally, the contract never has to be enforced. The goal is to avoid disputes by getting everyone to think through issues in advance. Doctors planned to thaw Clifford and Belinda Thomas' embryos to implant in Lisa Gibson, giving her no genetic link to any children she would bear for them.