Surrogacy Costs and Fees
How Much Does It Cost to Have a Surrogate?
When you begin the process of working with a surrogate, you are embarking on one of the most important, powerful, and meaningful experiences you’ll ever have in life. This will be an experience that will ultimately lead to the family you’ve always dreamed of — and that’s priceless.
At Family Creations, we take pride in helping you to realize your parenting dream. We also take pride in clearly outlining the surrogate costs that every intended parent needs to know from day one. Here is a breakdown of our surrogate cost information, which will help you plan your journey more effectively.
The Initial Cost of Surrogacy
If you reside in the United States, where our offices are located, the surrogacy administration fee is $40,000, broken down into three convenient payments.
First, you will pay $1,000 when you choose a surrogate to work with and her records are approved by your doctror. Then, your second payment will be $18,000, and it will be due within 48 hours after your match meeting with your surrogate. The match meeting will occur within one week of her records being approved by your doctor. The final payment of $21,000 will be made once your doctor has completed an in-person medical screening and provides the surrogate with medical clearance.
For parents who live in other countries, the cost is $45,000. With this fee, the first, second, and third payments will be $1,000, $21,000, and $23,000, respectively.
| Services | Fees |
|---|---|
| For parents who live in United States | $40,000 |
| When you choose a surrogate to work with | $1,000 |
| Within one week of choosing your surrogate | $18,000 |
| Once your doctor provides the surrogate with medical clearance | $21,000 |
| For parents who live in other countries | $45,000 |
| When you choose a surrogate to work with | $1,000 |
| Within one week of choosing your surrogate | $21,000 |
| Once your doctor provides the surrogate with medical clearance | $23,000 |
Additional Surrogacy Cost Information
In addition to the above fees, here are a few other noteworthy expenses to consider as you work out how much it costs to have a surrogate.
| FEE SCHEDULE | FEES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Surrogate Compensation | Starting at $50,000 | The surrogate will begin receiving this payment starting on the first of the month following confirmation of pregnancy (defined by fetal heartbeat). This surrogate cost will be issued in 10 even installments. After giving birth, the surrogate will receive a lump sum for the balance. |
| Surrogate Twin Compensation | $5,000 | Your surrogate receives an extra $5,000 when a twin pregnancy occurs. She receives this payment in $1,000 installments, beginning on the first of the fifth month of pregnancy and continuing for 5 months. |
| Monthly Allowance | $200/Month | This is a non-accountable monthly surrogate cost reimbursement paid at $200/month. This is to cover such things as postage, telephone calls, faxing, non-prescription medication, lost wages, and childcare for local appointments, etc. |
| Maternity Clothing | $1,000 | Paid to Surrogate at 12 weeks of pregnancy. |
| Embryo Transfer Fee | $1,000 | The surrogate will receive $1,000 for each embryo transfer procedure. |
| Medication Start Fee | $500 | Paid to the surrogate at the start of injectable medications for each cycle, including mock cycles. |
| Estimated Lost Wages | $TBD | Family Creations will estimate 6 weeks of lost wages for the surrogate and 5 days of lost wages for her husband/partner. Other surrogate costs potentially paid over the course of the pregnancy include reimbursements for travel time, doctor-ordered bed rest, and postpartum recovery. *Employment and wages are subject to change at any time throughout the surrogacy process. |
| Child Care | $2,000 | The surrogate will receive reimbursement of up to $100 per day for child care when placed on doctor-ordered bed rest or when bed rest is recommended by the physician. |
| House Cleaning | $600 | The surrogate will receive reimbursement of up to $100 per week for house cleaning when placed on doctor-ordered bed rest, as well as between weeks 36-41 of pregnancy and two weeks post-delivery. Surrogates are required to provide a receipt for services. |
| C Section for Surrogate | $4,000 | The surrogate will receive an additional $4,000 if the delivery requires a C-section. |
| Invasive Procedure | $500 | Surrogate will receive $500 for each procedure such as amniocentesis (or other prenatal diagnostic testing), D&C, fetal reduction, or any procedure requiring anesthesia, etc. |
| Surrogate’s Loss of Reproductive Capabilities | Insurance plan purchase | The surrogate will receive an additional payment of $4,000 should she lose her fallopian tubes or uterus, or have a complete hysterectomy as a result of the surrogacy. |
| Breast Milk Pumping | $250/Week | The surrogate may receive up to $250 a week, plus reimbursement for the cost of pump rental, supplies, and shipping. This must be mutually agreed upon. |
The fees below are other surrogate costs that intended parent(s) will or may incur, to further help you as you calculate how much it costs to have a surrogate:
| FEE SCHEDULE | FEES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| Surrogate Travel Expenses | $600 – $10,000 | This amount covers travel for the surrogate to all appointments related to surrogacy. The amount can range from $600 to $10,000 depending on where the surrogate lives in relation to the physician’s office. |
| Surrogate Accidental Death Insurance | $600 | $250,000 term policy for the surrogate, and $100,000 term policy for the intended parent(s). |
| Surrogate Health Insurance | $5,000-$30,000 | This depends on the Surrogate’s existing medical coverage — if any. Family Creations will refer the intended parent(s) to an insurance broker who will discuss the policy options available. Plans range from approximately $5,000 to $30,000. |
| Surrogate Legal Fees | $2,000 | This is an estimated fee for the cost of the review of the surrogacy agreement with the surrogate and her partner, if applicable. |
| Intended Parent Legal Fees | $7,500 | These fees are approximate and are paid directly to the attorney by the intended parent(s): parental rights and court pleadings $2,500 – $3,000; surrogate pleadings $350 – $500; court filing fees $1,000 – $1,500; legal representation for the intended parent(s) $2,000 – $2,500. |
| Psychological Evaluation of Surrogate | $950 | This covers the cost of the surrogate’s psychological evaluation with a therapist. |
| Psychological Support for Surrogate | $1,800 | This fund will provide ongoing psychological support for your surrogate throughout the pregnancy. |
| Psychological Counseling Session for Intended Parents | $395 | The intended parent(s) will have one visit with a therapist to discuss the upcoming surrogacy process. |
| Miscellaneous Deposit for Lab Bills | $5,000 | This fund is for miscellaneous surrogate costs that come up throughout the process, including lab bills. |
| Escrow Account Management Fees | $1,400-$1,700 | This is the fee paid to the escrow company that will be managing the account of the intended parent(s). |
| Out-of-Area Medical Monitoring for Surrogate | $TBD | If the surrogate is not local to the physician chosen by the intended parent(s), an out-of-town medical monitoring facility will be used. The physician chosen by the intended parent(s) will order any necessary testing, and the cost of these appointments will be paid by the intended parent(s) directly to the monitoring facility. |
| Medical Screening and Procedures | $TBD | Consult with physician’s office for breakdown |
| IVF Medication | $TBD | Consult with physician’s office or pharmacy for a breakdown. |
If you have further questions about surrogate costs or how much it costs to have a surrogate in total, please contact our dedicated team. We are here to help you make the most of the rewarding and life-changing process of working with a surrogate.