805-697-7955

Convenient Office In Los Olivos, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Here Every Step of The Way

At Surrogacy International, Inc. it is our mission to provide every client with the legal assurances and personal support to begin building families with certainty and confidence. As part of this commitment, we have outlined a number of common questions and answers. Have additional questions? Please contact us and we would be happy to respond.

For Surrogates

How do I get started as a Surrogate?

We want to make this process as easy for you as possible. Whether you are committed to this process already or still trying to decide if it’s right for you, we encourage you to call or email us and meet your Nurse Care Manager. You will be asked to complete a simple 1-page initial questionnaire either online or over the phone.

Who can be a Surrogate?

Becoming a Surrogate is the selfless act of helping an infertile couple or individual realize their dream of becoming a parent. Basic eligibility requirements are:

  • A woman between the ages 21 and 40
  • Given birth to at least 1 child before
  • Of good medical and mental health – (Surrogate’s must completed a medical clearance exam and psychological clearance exam)
  • Non-smoker
  • Have had all healthy, uncomplicated, and full-term pregnancies and deliveries previously (except under extenuating circumstances such as the birth of twins)
  • United States citizen or permanent resident that is fluent in English
  • Stable home-life and clean criminal background
  • Flexibility at home and work to attend necessary appointments for the surrogacy
How much money does a Surrogate make?
The truth is that there are more infertile couples out there than there are selfless and incredible women willing and able to make such a sacrifice. Because of this, gestational surrogates are in high demand, and the generous Surrogate Benefits Package proves it. Surrogate compensation varies depending on things like your state of residence, experience, and current insurance status. First time Surrogates typically make as much as $40,000 to $50,000 in pregnancy compensation, allowances, and other various payments and incentives and experienced Surrogates can make as much as $60,000 – $80,000.
Gestational Surrogacy vs. Traditional Surrogacy – will the baby be related to me?
In gestational surrogacy, an embryo is formed outside of the womb and transferred to the Surrogate’s uterus to carry. The process utilizes the medical miracles of in vitro fertilization and allows the resulting child to have no genetic relation to the Surrogate whatsoever. In many cases, the child can actually be 100% genetically related to the Intended Parents.

In a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is impregnated naturally or artificially using her own egg(s). This was the “traditional” process before advances in IVF came to be. The process more closely resembles natural conception, but can become more complex emotionally and legally since the resulting child is genetically related to the surrogate. At Surrogacy International, Inc. we deal ONLY with gestational surrogacy.

How am I matched with Intended Parent(s)?
As a smaller agency, we never treat our Surrogates like numbers in a database. We want to know you as an individual and support you and your Intended Parents in any way we can. Our goal is not to make as many possible matches as we can, but rather to make the right matches between Intended Parents and Surrogates. Once a possible match has been identified by our staff, we send everyone basic information about each other. From there, you and the Intended Parents will have a chance to meet over Skype or in person for a Meet & Greet match meeting.

This meeting is vital to make sure all are comfortable with one another and can openly discuss any questions or concerns. While we think you match on paper, only you will know if you truly “click.” We recognize that you will have your own criteria and preferences for a match and will work closely with you to make sure your wants and needs are respected.

What is the Surrogacy process and how long does it take?

From your first consult and well past delivery, you will have a Nurse Care Manager to guide you and support you through every step in this process. Each surrogacy journey is different, but on average from the time you match with Intended Parents to the time you deliver that bundle of joy, it’s at least a one year commitment. It is important to realize that being a Surrogate is a serious responsibility and does require your time and flexibility. Once your pregnancy is confirmed and established, pregnancy goes on as normal much like you experienced with your own child(ren), but in the beginning, while you are completing your necessary clearance appointments and going through IVF and the embryo transfer cycle, you will be expected to travel and complete anywhere from 5 to 10 appointments with the fertility doctor. To learn more, view our Surrogate In a Nut Shell (PDF)

Is it painful?
Well, if you are applying to be a surrogate, you have been pregnant and delivered a baby before, so yes, we are not going to lie to you, giving birth hurts. Before all of that however comes the appointments, injections, and transfer, oh my! Here is the good news, while we cannot guarantee your experience, we can say with confidence that most Surrogates report experiencing only minor discomforts and inconveniences, if any.

You will have ultrasounds, pelvic exams, and blood drawn throughout your pregnancy, but all of these you have likely had before and kind of know what to expect. You may be required to have a biopsy done, but the procedure takes all of 5-10 minutes and is done in the doctor’s office. It sounds way scarier than it actually is. Most feel only a small pinch or nothing at all. Even the embryo transfer procedure itself takes only a few minutes and having a full bladder is probably the most uncomfortable part of the whole thing. You are usually placed on bed-rest for a day afterwards to help the embryo successfully attach itself. That leaves the injections. Not all surrogates require injection medications for their IVF cycle – some use oral and trans-vaginal hormone medications instead.

The majority of cycles, however, do use some combination of injectable medication including Lupron, Estrace, and/or progesterone. It is important to know that these medications are only administered for a short period of time until the pregnancy is established, however, and we have lots and tips and tricks to help you with your injection protocol.

Is It safe?
As a Surrogate, it is important to understand that you are agreeing to an invasive medical procedure that will ultimately result in a pregnancy and hospital delivery. Like with any medical procedure and pregnancy, there are inherent risks. These risks, however, are minimized by using experienced and reputable professionals (including physicians, psychologists, attorneys, and our agency) at every step.

A fertility doctor will perform an extensive exam of you and review your medical records and previous history to best ensure you are deemed safe and “cleared” to be a Surrogate. Further he/she will discuss with you the medical process of surrogacy and all of the potential risks involved so that you are fully informed and aware before proceeding. Surrogacy and pregnancy can also be a very emotional process. To best ensure your mental health and safety, a complete psychological assessment will be completed by a licensed evaluator to best ensure that you are safe and “cleared” to be a Surrogate from a mental health perspective.

You will also be offered on going counseling for a period of time during and after delivery to make sure that your possible emotional considerations are being addressed too. Additionally it is important we protect your legal rights as a Surrogate too. While you have been pregnant before, being pregnant for someone else is different, and this comes with a number of legal considerations. There will be an extensive and detailed Surrogacy (IVF) Agreement that you and the Intended Parents will need to agree to and sign. This is a legally binding contract meeting the requirements of the law and designed to protect you and the Intended Parents. As a Surrogate with Surrogacy International, Inc. we require that you have your own independent legal counsel (attorney) for all legal steps in the process. The fees for this attorney to review the Agreement and complete the parentage process with the Court are paid by the Intended Parents so nothing comes out of your pocket. He/she is your attorney alone, however, and is designated to explain and protect your legal rights.

As an agency, it is our job to guide you through all of your requirements in the process and to coordinate all of the necessary medical, psychological, legal, insurance, and financial professionals needed for your surrogacy.

For Intended Parents

As an intended parent, what can I expect the surrogacy process to cost?

Every surrogacy arrangement is different so an exact amount cannot be determined. We have compiled some basic guidelines and estimates, however. Click here, to view the “Intended Parent Fee Schedule.”

Who can be an Intended Parent?
Parenting is a choice of incredible responsibility and tremendous pride that we believe every deserving person should be able to experience. Surrogacy International, Inc. works with intended parents from all over the country and even around the world. Each state and country may have specific legal requirements or considerations that our attorneys will be able to discuss with you.
How do I get started as an Intended Parent?
We want to make this process as easy for you as possible. Whether you are committed to this process already or still trying to decide if it’s right for you, we encourage you to call or email us and meet your Nurse Care Manager. The simple 1-page initial questionnaire can be downloaded here or completed over the phone. You may be referred to complete a consultation with a surrogacy attorney and/or fertility physician.
How are Surrogates selected?
Surrogates are initially screened based on an extensive Surrogate application. Those meeting criteria are further interviewed, profiled, and researched for criminal history. Once a Surrogate is matched following a match meeting, she must further complete a medical clearance exam with your fertility doctor and psychological clearance exam with a licensed and qualified evaluator to ensure that Surrogate is deemed an appropriate candidate, medically and psychologically, to proceed. In addition, Surrogate’s health insurance is reviewed and vetted by a professional third party broker to best ensure coverage for a surrogate pregnancy.

Surrogacy International, Inc. consistently advertises for surrogate candidates and receives many referrals from our professional colleagues including physicians, attorneys, and even other agencies. Once retained, however, our agency can also conduct a personalized advertising campaign looking for surrogates specifically for you and your particular needs.

What are the agency services and fees?

Surrogacy International, Inc. is the first of its kind to come to California’s central coast. We uniquely combine our 30 plus years of legal expertise with the comforts and assurances of a local, family-owned California agency. Services include:

  • Locating and screening optimal surrogate candidates
  • “Matching” Surrogate candidates with future Intended Parents
  • Assistance connecting all parties to the necessary professional services (medical, legal, psychiatric, financial, insurance, etc.)
  • Arranging the necessary medical clearance appointment with the fertility clinic
  • Arranging the necessary psychological clearance appointment with a qualified evaluator
  • Arranging the necessary surrogate health insurance review and verification with a qualified broker
  • Opening the necessary third party payment account (usually an escrow account) for payments to the Surrogate and related expenses
  • Arranging criminal background checks
  • Coordinating with the Parties’ attorneys to obtain the necessary information for the Surrogacy (IVF) Agreement
  • Acting as a liaison between all parties, their attorneys, and other professional providers as appropriate
  • Providing emotional and professional support to all parties throughout the process

We understand that deciding to move forward with a surrogacy agency is a big financial commitment. We opened in part, to offer an alternative to some of the enormous agency fees we were seeing in our legal practice. While many of the costs and fees associated with surrogacy are simply out of our hands, we do strive to keep our own agency fees reasonable and competitive so that all of our intended parents may have the chance to experience the gift of children. Our agency fees are broken into 5 installments for the convenience of our intended parents. The initial payment of $3,000 is the only non-refundable fee due upon the initiation of services. Subsequent payments will only be assessed as you decide you are ready to move forward with the next steps in your parenting journey. Additionally, Surrogacy International, Inc. does offer discounts on our agency fees for Intended Parents who choose to have Attorney Robert Walmsley or his firm represent them for the Surrogacy (IVF) Agreement and later parentage action.

What is the Surrogacy process and how long does it take?

Surrogacy is a complex process involving many different people and professionals. From your first consult and well past delivery, you will have a Nurse Care Manager to guide you and support you through every step in this process. To better prepare you, here is a checklist of the process and steps you can expect? Each surrogacy journey is different, but on average from the time you match with a Surrogate to the time that bundle of joy is born, it’s at least a one year process.

Gestational Surrogacy vs. Traditional Surrogacy – will the baby be related to me?
In gestational surrogacy, an embryo is formed outside of the womb and transferred to the Surrogate’s uterus to carry. The process utilizes the medical miracles of in vitro fertilization and allows the resulting child to have no genetic relation to the Surrogate whatsoever. Depending on your particular medical circumstances, the child can actually be genetically related to the one or both Intended Parents. In a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is impregnated naturally or artificially using her own egg(s). This was the “traditional” process before advances in IVF came to be. The process more closely resembles natural conception, but can become more complex emotionally and legally since the resulting child is genetically related to the surrogate. At Surrogacy International, Inc. we deal ONLY with gestational surrogacy.
What kind of relationship can I expect with the Surrogate?
There is no one model of surrogacy that fits every surrogate and intended parent match. We have Intended Parents that want to be as involved in the pregnancy as possible – attending appointments with the Surrogate on occasion, getting frequent updates and pictures of the Surrogate’s progressing pregnancy and “baby bump,” one-on-one bonding time, etc. Other Intended Parents want to have a strictly professional relationship receiving only updates following medical appointments via phone or email. Some Intended Parents want to terminate communication with the Surrogate soon after birth, while others find they meet up with their Surrogates for a reunion or vacation for years to come. Most Intended Parents fall somewhere in between and find their involvement with their Surrogate may change as the pregnancy moves along. The relationship you choose to have with your Surrogate is mostly up to you. As your agency, we will try to match you to a surrogate who has the same communication, involvement, and contact understanding as you.

Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 552
Los Olivos, CA 93441

Los Olivos Office:
2901 Grand Ave., Suite E
Los Olivos, CA 93441
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Phone: 805-697-7955 Fax: 805-697-7410

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