The Surrogacy Process for Surrogates

New York Surrogacy Center will be there every step of the way to guide you through the surrogacy process. The process typically consists of the following 9 stages:

NY Surrogacy Center - Pregnant Surrogate
INTAKE

You can reach out via our website, phone, or email and we will set up a time to talk by phone or Zoom about the process and answer any questions you have about the agency or about surrogacy, in general. If you are interested in moving forward, we will send you our application to complete and return to us. We will then send you instructions for completing the pre-screening process.

PRE-SCREENING

In order to make sure you meet our eligibility criteria to become a surrogate, you will undergo the following pre-screening steps:

  • Child abuse/neglect disclosure
  • Background check, including criminal history, sex offender registry, credit history and driving record
  • HIPAA releases for your OBGYN records
  • OBGYN Letter of Recommendation
  • STD screening
  • Drug test
  • Virtual home visit with surrogate

We will provide you with detailed instructions on how to accomplish each of these steps and we will reimburse you for the costs associated with all of these pre-screening steps, once they are all completed. We will also conduct an independent review of your health insurance policy to make sure it covers a surrogate pregnancy.  Once your pre-screening is complete and your application is approved, we will create a profile for you to review and approve. You will also sign an agreement regarding your relationship with the agency. Once that is completed, you will be ready for the matching phase.

MATCHING

Based on the information provided in your application, we will show you profiles of intended parents who may be a good match for you and show them your profile. We will then arrange a pre-match meeting via Zoom between you and the intended parents. If both you and the intended parents agree it’s a good match, we will officially match you and you will move on to the screening process.

MEDICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING

The next step will be for you to undergo a medical screening pursuant to the requirements of the intended parents’ fertility clinic. If the fertility clinic is not close to you, the agency will make travel arrangements for you and cover the costs. You and the intended parents will also undergo a psychological screening to make sure you all understand the process of surrogacy and the potential emotional impacts of surrogacy. Once medical and psychological clearances are obtained, you will be ready to move on to the contract phase.

CONTRACT PHASE

We will provide a referral to a competent law firm to represent you in the negotiation of the Surrogacy Agreement, which will set forth the terms of your surrogacy arrangement. It will include information about your compensation and your conduct during the pregnancy. Once the Surrogacy Agreement is signed and all legal requirements met, we will send a legal clearance letter to the fertility center and you will be ready to schedule the embryo transfer.

EMBRYO TRANSFER

The fertility center will schedule the embryo transfer with you and the intended parents. If the fertility center is not close to you, the agency will make those arrangements and cover all costs. If all goes well, you will become pregnant and the agency will check in with you after each medical appointment to see how you and the baby are doing. The agency will also make sure that you receive all payments you are entitled to pursuant to the Surrogacy Agreement. You can also contact the agency at any time with questions or concerns. Once you reach the second trimester of pregnancy, the intended parents will have their attorney file a parentage proceeding.

PARENTAGE PROCEEDING

When it’s time to file the parentage proceeding, your attorney will send you a consent to review and sign. The consent will then be filed with the Court, along with the intended parents’ petition. The Court will issue a pre-birth order declaring the intended parents to be the parents of the baby and directing the Department of Health to list them as the parents on the baby’s birth certificate. You will not typically be required to go to court.

BIRTH

You will let the agency and the intended parents know as soon as labor begins and the intended parents will be present for the labor and delivery, if possible. They will care for and bond with the baby at the hospital and the baby will be discharged to them. After birth, you may pump breast milk for the intended parents, if you all agree.

POST-BIRTH

You will be compensated for your lost wages, if any, while you recover from childbirth. You will also receive any final payments due to you under the Surrogacy Agreement and your surrogacy journey will be complete.

INTAKE

You can reach out via our website, phone, or email and we will set up a time to talk by phone or Zoom about the process and answer any questions you have about the agency or about surrogacy, in general. If you are interested in moving forward, we will send you our application to complete and return to us. We will then send you instructions for completing the pre-screening process.

PRE-SCREENING

In order to make sure you meet our eligibility criteria to become a surrogate, you will undergo the following pre-screening steps:

  • Child abuse/neglect disclosure
  • Background check, including criminal history, sex offender registry, credit history and driving record
  • HIPAA releases for your OBGYN records
  • OBGYN Letter of Recommendation
  • STD screening
  • Drug test
  • Virtual home visit with surrogate

We will provide you with detailed instructions on how to accomplish each of these steps and we will reimburse you for the costs associated with all of these pre-screening steps, once they are all completed. We will also conduct an independent review of your health insurance policy to make sure it covers a surrogate pregnancy.  Once your pre-screening is complete and your application is approved, we will create a profile for you to review and approve. You will also sign an agreement regarding your relationship with the agency. Once that is completed, you will be ready for the matching phase.

MATCHING

Based on the information provided in your application, we will show you profiles of intended parents who may be a good match for you and show them your profile. We will then arrange a pre-match meeting via Zoom between you and the intended parents. If both you and the intended parents agree it’s a good match, we will officially match you and you will move on to the screening process.

MEDICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING

The next step will be for you to undergo a medical screening pursuant to the requirements of the intended parents’ fertility center. If the fertility center is not close to you, the agency will make travel arrangements for you and cover the costs. You and the intended parents will also undergo a psychological screening to make sure you all understand the process of surrogacy and the potential emotional impacts of surrogacy. Once medical and psychological clearances are obtained, you will be ready to move on to the contract phase.

CONTRACT PHASE

We will provide a referral to a competent law firm to represent you in the negotiation of the Surrogacy Agreement, which will set forth the terms of your surrogacy arrangement. It will include information about your compensation and your conduct during the pregnancy. Once the Surrogacy Agreement is signed and all legal requirements met, we will send a legal clearance letter to the fertility center and you will be ready to schedule the embryo transfer.

EMBRYO TRANSFER

The fertility center will schedule the embryo transfer with you and the intended parents. If the fertility center is not close to you, the agency will make those arrangements and cover all costs. If all goes well, you will become pregnant and the agency will check in with you after each medical appointment to see how you and the baby are doing. The agency will also make sure that you receive all payments you are entitled to pursuant to the Surrogacy Agreement. You can also contact the agency at any time with questions or concerns. Once you reach the second trimester of pregnancy, the intended parents will have their attorney file a parentage proceeding.

PARENTAGE PROCEEDING

When it’s time to file the parentage proceeding, your attorney will send you a consent to review and sign. The consent will then be filed with the Court, along with the intended parents’ petition. The Court will issue a pre-birth order declaring the intended parents to be the parents of the baby and directing the Department of Health to list them as the parents on the baby’s birth certificate. You will not typically be required to go to court.

BIRTH

You will let the agency and the intended parents know as soon as labor begins and the intended parents will be present for the labor and delivery, if possible. They will care for and bond with the baby at the hospital and the baby will be discharged to them. After birth, you may pump breast milk for the intended parents, if you all agree.

POST-BIRTH

You will be compensated for your lost wages, if any, while you recover from childbirth. You will also receive any final payments due to you under the Surrogacy Agreement and your surrogacy journey will be complete.