Pick a start date to see projected dates for every step of the journey, from matching through finalizing parentage.
These are general estimates, not a schedule you can count on. Actual timelines vary significantly based on individual circumstances, clinic scheduling, court calendars, and legal processing times in your state.
Surrogate and intended parent(s) find and choose each other, through an agency, independently, or a mix of both. Timing varies enormously depending on the path chosen and specific preferences on both sides.
The surrogate completes a medical evaluation confirming she's a good candidate for pregnancy, including bloodwork, a physical exam, and a uterine evaluation.
A licensed mental health professional evaluates the surrogate's (and often her partner's) readiness for the emotional aspects of surrogacy.
Each party retains their own attorney and negotiates and signs a written agreement covering compensation, medical decisions, and expectations, before any medical procedures begin.
The surrogate begins hormone preparation, followed by the embryo transfer procedure itself.
Blood tests and early ultrasounds confirm the pregnancy before transitioning to routine prenatal care.
In pre-birth order states, the intended parents' attorney files for a parentage judgment during the pregnancy. In post-birth order states, this step happens after delivery instead — see your state's legal guide for which applies.
Routine prenatal care continues, coordinated between the surrogate's medical team and the intended parents.
The baby is born. In pre-birth order states, the parentage judgment is typically already in hand, simplifying hospital paperwork.
In pre-birth order states, this is largely administrative (updating the birth certificate). In post-birth order states, this is when the parentage process actually begins and can take significantly longer.
