Who becomes an intended parent through surrogacy?
come to surrogacy for many reasons — infertility, a medical condition that makes pregnancy unsafe, being part of a same-sex couple, or choosing to become a single parent. Whatever the reason, surrogacy involves navigating medical, legal, and financial decisions that are worth understanding before you begin.
Where do I start?
Most intended parents start with two parallel questions: who will help me find a surrogate (an agency, independent matching, or a mix) and what does this actually cost and involve in my state, since both significantly shape the rest of the journey. The state legal guide and cost calculator are good starting points for the second question.
Agency vs. independent matching
- Agencies typically handle matching, screening coordination, and support throughout the journey, for a fee (see ). This can simplify the process, especially for first-time intended parents.
- Independent matching (through personal networks or online groups) can reduce costs but shifts more of the vetting and coordination responsibility onto you. If you go this route, extra care with screening and legal protections matters even more.
What legal steps are involved?
Before any medical procedures begin, you and your surrogate will each have your own attorney and sign a covering compensation, medical decision-making, and expectations. Later in the pregnancy, your attorney may petition for a — in some states, this can be granted before birth; in others, it happens after. This varies significantly by state — see the legal guide for your state's specifics.
What does this typically cost?
Costs vary widely based on whether you use an agency, the surrogate's compensation, medical costs, legal fees, and insurance. See the cost calculator guide for a full breakdown by category.
What about insurance?
This is one of the most commonly overlooked parts of planning — many health plans exclude surrogacy pregnancies from coverage, so this should be sorted out well before your surrogate is medically screened, not figured out later. See the insurance guide for intended parents for what to check.
This isn't legal, medical, or financial advice
This page is meant to help you understand the basics before you start making decisions specific to your situation — always confirm specifics with the professionals involved in your journey.