FAQ:
General Questions

What's the difference between a Surrogacy Consultant and an agency? 

Really the only difference between a consultant and an agency is that working with a consultant means you only work with one person. You will receive the same support and guidance as you would with an agency but with a consultant, you only work with me. In my experience, working with a consultant is much more personal than working with a large agency. For my first journey, I went with an agency and I did not have a good experience due to poor communication. For my second journey, a surrogacy consultant reached out to me with a potential match and I decided to move forward with that match. I had a great experience working with a surrogacy consultant because I loved how personal it was working with just one person. I loved having the support and guidance that you would want with an agency but working with one person was much more personal and easier to work with. Why is my fee so low compared to agencies? Some of the agencies that charge on the higher end ($40k+) may have fees added in like an in-house attorney or some medical screening. If an agency has an in-house attorney, that's a red flag. Many people do not recommend going through an agency that has in-house services like attorneys or escrow, that should be something that the IP's choose. Some agencies have a 'baby guarantee' which means they won't charge any extra fees if a match does not work out, need to find another GC, etc. I charge one fee and will not ask for another dime. The main reason that I can keep my fee so low is that I do not have any overhead fees and I do not have any employees. I work from home and the best part is... you can reach me anytime! I do not have set business hours. You are welcome to email, text, or call me anytime.

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How much does surrogacy Cost? 

The cost of surrogacy can range from $85k-$150k depending on many factors. The good news is that by working with me, you can receive the same support and guidance as an agency but for only a fraction of the cost. Here are some approximate fees that you can expect to see: Agency fee: Agency fees average between $25k-$60. My consulting fee is $7k. Surrogate Compensation: $35k-$45k. Carrier reimbursements- $1k-$10k for monthly allowance, travel expenses, lost wages for the GC and/or partner, copays/deductibles. Screening cost: starting at $1500. Please contact your clinic for more information. Psychological evaluation- $2k-$5k Medical procedures: Embryo transfer fee for the GC, clinic costs, and medical procedures due to ectopic pregnancy, termination, selective reduction, D&C if it's needed after a failed transfer, c-section, hysterectomy, GC compensation for loss of organs. Insurance: If the GC does not have surrogate-friendly insurance, plans cost between $10k-$20k. Approx. $450-$650/mo. Legal fees: Attorney for the IP's and attorney for the GC- $7k-$15k which will include the IP's drafting the contract, the GC's attorney reviewing the contract with her, establishment of parentage, escrow account management.

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We found a match independently but need support moving forward. Can you help us? 
 

Independent Surrogacy Support offers match assistance! This package is a full support package for IP's and/or GC's that have found a potential match but they don't know where to start or would just like the support and guidance. Match assistance is $6,500. Here is how my process works and how the fees are broken down:

 

--Before I collect any money, I would like to connect with the GC first just for a quick chat to make sure she meets all of the requirements of surrogacy. Very quick basic chat because I would hate to collect the $500 non-refundable deposit from you and then quickly find out that she doesn't meet basic qualifications.

 

-- After I know that the GC meets all basic requirements, I would be happy to set up a consultation with you to introduce myself, go over the process, ask about matching preferences to make sure everyone is on the same page, etc. After we meet and you would like to move forward with my assistance, I will ask for the $500 non-refundable deposit to begin services.

 

-- I will facilitate a zoom meeting with the IP's and GC. I l like to keep it casual, go over the match points, and give everyone an opportunity to ask questions and casually chat! After the meeting, I will reach out to the IP and GC individually to ask if they would like to move forward. If both parties want to move forward, I will then go over the fee sheet with everyone individually. The fee sheet lists the fees that you will see on the legal agreement like the compensation amount, monthly allowance, transfer fee, med start fee, maternity clothing allowance, c-section fee, child care, lost wages, etc. I will mediate between both parties if needed, until everyone comes to an agreement. If the IP's and GC can not come to an agreement on the fee sheet, then it's not the right match, and the IP and GC will not move forward. Or once the IP and GC both agree on the fee sheet, it will be an official match! I will create an official match sheet which you will give to the clinic and your attorney and both the IP and GC will receive a copy.

 

-- Once you have officially matched, I will assist the GC with getting her medical records to the IP's clinic so the clinic can review them.

If the clinic approves the carrier, great! If the clinic does NOT approve the carrier, the match will break, and the $500 non-refundable fee will cover my time assisting up until this point.

 

-- When the clinic reviews the GC's medical records and the GC is approved to move forward, we get going!
(This is when I will collect the first payment of $3,000, when the clinic approves the GC to move forward. )

 First-- Psych evaluation for the IP's and GC (and her partner if applicable)

Second-- Medical clearance for the GC at the IP's clinic or locally if the clinic is far and allows the GC to do medical clearance at a local clinic that allows outside monitoring. If this is the case, I will assist the GC with finding a local clinic.
(When the GC is medically cleared, I will collect the second payment of $3,000)
 

Third-- Legal! I can assist both the IP and GC with finding an attorney that specializes in reproductive law.
(Once the legal agreement is signed, the collect the third and final payment of $3,000)

 

Not only am I here to assist both the IP's and GC with every step of the way to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, but I am also a point of contact which can be very helpful to the IP's. This takes a lot of work off of the IP's because the clinic, psych eval physician, and attorneys often reach out to me with questions which can take a lot of stress and work off of the IP's. I communicate with and assist the clinic with communicating with the GC, communicate with the psych eval physician, and the IP's and GC's attorney, and assist with communicating between the three if needed.

 

And I absolutely love the IP's that decide to work with me, but I also love the GC's equally! I am a 2x experienced surrogate and am currently in the process of journey #3. I really enjoy connecting with fellow surrogates, sharing my experiences, and helping with questions about what to expect on meds, medical clearance, during transfer, etc. And the best part about working with me vs a large agency is that you work with just me! That means you and the GC are more than welcome to Facebook message me, email me, text or call me whenever you would like. Really, any time!

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What is the process and how long does it take? 

For Intended Parents, match time is approximately 12-18 months. For GC's, match time is typically less than a month depending on your matching preferences. From match to transfer is about 6-7months.

Steps- 1) The GC needs to request their pregnancy records from their OB and their delivery records from the hospital, for all children. The pregnancy and delivery record will be reviewed by the IP's clinic which can take 2-6 weeks.

2) Once the IP's reviews the GC's records and approves them to move forward, the first step is the psychological evaluation. IP's- be sure to ask your clinic what their requirements are when looking for a counselor and ask if they have any recommendations. It is typical to have 3 appointments- an appt with the GC and their partner (if applicable), the IP's have their appointment, then typically, the IP and GC completes an appointment together. Some counselors only require 2 appointments. This can take 6-8 weeks.

3) Once the psych eval is complete, the GC can begin medical clearance with the IP's clinic. It varies from clinic to clinic but typically, medical clearance consists of an ultrasound and blood work for both the GC and their partner. The ultrasound has to be done at a certain time of the GC's cycle, so it may take a few weeks to schedule. Some clinics require the GC to travel to the clinic for medical clearance but some clinics can send orders to the GC to have them do it locally. IP's- it's a good idea to ask your clinic if the GC has to do clearance at the clinic or if they can do it locally, so the GC is aware of additional travel if needed. Medical clearance can take 4-10 weeks. If additional tests are needed or if there are any issues with blood work, it can take a few more weeks.

4) The very last step is legal! The IP's will need to find an attorney in the GC's state. The IP and GC will have two separate attorneys. Typically, the IP's attorney will draft the contract and send it to the IP's to review. Once the IP's review the agreement, the IP's attorney will set up a time to review it with the IP's in detail. Once that IP's approves the agreement, the IP's attorney will send it to the GC's attorney. The GC's attorney will send it to the GC for her and her partner to review for a few days then schedule a time with the GC to go over the agreement in detail. If any changes are requested, the attorneys will communicate with each other until everyone can come to an agreement on the contract. If the IP and GC can not come to an agreement, the match will break. Legal can take 4-8 weeks. To find an attorney that specializes in Reproductive Health, visit https://adoptionart.org/ . Click on "Find an attorney" then search by state.

Once the legal agreement is signed by all parties, the clinic will work on scheduling a transfer date! Typically, most clinics will have this done within a week of receiving the legal agreement.
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What can we expect during a match meeting?

I like to keep match meetings very casual! After introductions, we will go over all of the matching details like clinic requirements and matching preferences. This will give everyone an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. I like to keep the match meetings casual and give everyone the chance to casually chat, ask questions, and get a feel for the match. After the call is over, I give the IP's and GC time to think about moving forward. If after the meeting you don't feel like it's a good match, I will let the other party know. If everyone is interested in moving forward, the next step is talking about the fee sheet. I will go over the fee sheet with the IP's and GC individually. When both parties are happy with the fee sheet, it will be an official match! If the IP's and GC can not agree on the fee sheet, we will not move forward.

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We have a match... now what?!

Having a potential match is exciting... but it can also be overwhelming! I am here to help!

When you have a potential match but you don't know what to do first, have no idea what to ask, or just need support and assistance moving forward, I am here to help.

*The most important question is, does the GC meet ALL of the IP's clinic requirements?

*The next most important thing is to make sure both IP and GC have similar matching preferences. Here is what you NEED to discuss!

- SET (Single Embryo Transfer) or DET (Double Embryo Transfer)? I do not recommend a DET and most clinics are no longer allowing DET. Statistically, DET does not increase the odds of becoming pregnant, it only increases the odds of having multiples which can lead to complications with the GC and/or babies. SET is safest!

-Covid vaccine. IP's, check to see if your clinic requires it. If they do, the GC will need to have the covid vaccine. GC's- if you have not had the covid vaccine and you do not want it, many clinics will accept GC's that do not have it. It may take a little longer to match but know that not all clinics require it.

-Termination
1) No term (Will not terminate for any reason. Example- even if the baby is diagnosed with a medical condition that is not compatible with life, the GC will still carry to term, if it doesn't put the carrier's life at risk).
2) Term only for medication conditions (If the baby is diagnosed with a serious medical condition that is not compatible with life, the IP's have the option to terminate)
3) Term for any medical or genetic condition (If the baby is diagnosed with a serious medical condition that is not compatible with life OR if the baby is diagnosed with a genetic condition, the IP's have the option to terminate).

The above are non-negotiable.

*The IP and GC need to have the same preferences. Some other things to consider...

Distance- How far is the GC from the IP's? How far is the clinic from the GC? If the GC is not local to the clinic, is the GC able to take time off work and/or be away from her children for 3-4 days for medical clearance and/or transfer?

Insurance- Does the GC have surrogate-friendly insurance? The GC's insurance will NEED to be verified. To have it verified, the IP's need to contact ArtRisk. ArtRisk will go over the GC's current insurance to see if it covers surrogacy. Some plans cover surrogacy but most do not. If the GC does not have insurance or if their plan does not cover surrogacy, the IP will need to purchase insurance for the GC. The IP's should expect to pay around $450-$650/month. If the GC's insurance covers surrogacy, the IP's would be responsible for any deductible amounts or copays that are related to pregnancy. The GC will continue to pay their own monthly premium.

Compensation- Average compensation for surrogacy is $40k-$45k. About $40k for first time GC's that do not have insurance. About $45k for a first time GC that has surro-friendly insurance. About $45k-$50k for experienced GC's. The GC sets compensation to what they are most comfortable with. In addition to the base compensation, the GC will receive other fees like monthly allowance, med start fee, transfer fee, lost wages, maternity clothing allowance, etc. For more information on what is on the fee sheet, please look at the question that covers the fee sheet.

Relationship- what kind of relationship do you want during the pregnancy? IP's, do you want to attend appointments, have a close relationship, frequent updates? GC's, do you want the IP's to attend appointments, communicate often or just for appointments? What kind of relationship do you want after the baby is born? Continued communication or no communication?

Family support- Does the GC have family support? If they have a partner, is their partner supportive? Do the IP's have support? It's great for the IP and the GC to talk about what their support system consists of.

Delivery- How long was the GC's previous labor/deliveries? If they have very short labors, that is something that the IP's have to consider when thinking about the location of the GC and how quickly they could get there. Will the GC have a repeat C-Section? GC's, are you open or opposed to inductions? What hospital will the GC deliver at? What is the hospital's NICU level? It's recommended that the hospital has at least a level III NICU. If the GC is not high-risk, it's not an issue for them to deliver at a level II NICU but that is something that should be discussed. If they have a level II NICU, what is the closest hospital with a level III NICU? If the GC prefers a home birth or birth center, how far is the closest hospital if the GC needs to be transferred?

If the IP or the GC has any other match preferences, it is important to discuss them before matching.


What is the psych evaluation like? 

What is done during medical clearance?