There are many questions that hopeful intended parents have about the surrogacy process. Perhaps none is bigger than, “How much does surrogacy cost?”
While surrogacy can certainly be an expensive process, there are ways to make it more affordable — for example, if you have found a family member who is willing to carry your child for you. The surrogacy cost using a family member will be significantly lower than the overall surrogacy cost should you match with a previously unknown surrogate. For this reason, many intended parents pursuing an identified surrogacy are less stressed about their family-building expenses — but there are still many important things to know about surrogacy costs before moving forward.
If you’re asking, “How much does surrogacy cost with a family member?” you’ve come to the right place. Not only does American Surrogacy offer discounted fees for those pursuing identified surrogacy, but our specialists are happy to discuss the intricacies of our agency costs, whatever your personal surrogacy situation. We know that surrogacy can be expensive, which is why we are here to help.
For more details about your estimated cost of surrogacy with a family member, you can call our agency anytime at 1-800-875-BABY(2229). In the meantime, learn more about identified surrogacy costs below.
The Cost of Surrogacy with a Family Member
Every surrogacy journey will be unique. In order to find out the accurate cost of surrogacy with a family member, you’ll want to contact a surrogacy professional like American Surrogacy. A specialist can identify the services you need and the associated costs to determine the most accurate cost estimate for your journey.
No matter your situation, there are a few costs you can overlook and a few you can still expect:
What You Don’t Have to Pay For
If you find a gestational carrier on your own, as you do in a surrogacy with a family member, you will not need to use matching services from a surrogacy professional. Many surrogacy agencies and programs provide these services for intended parents looking for their perfect surrogate. If you’ve already found her, professionals will waive the cost of these unnecessary services.
In most identified surrogacies, intended parents and their surrogate agree to an altruistic surrogacy — or at least a surrogacy with minimal base compensation. This is a huge factor in why your surrogate mother cost with a family member will be much smaller than it would be with a stranger. Your relative may be comfortable with the idea of providing her services to you for free, which saves you the cost of surrogate compensation.
What You Do Have to Pay For
Even though you are pursuing an identified surrogacy, you will still need to work with professionals and obtain certain services to safely complete your surrogacy journey.
Every gestational carrier and intended parent should complete background assessment and screening before committing to this path. Surrogacy requires a great deal from both parties in the process — emotionally, mentally and physically. Undergoing screening ensures that both parties are prepared for these responsibilities, which will increase the likelihood of a surrogacy being successful during its first attempt.
In addition, you will still need to work with a fertility clinic and a surrogacy lawyer to complete your embryo transfer process and surrogacy contract, respectively. You’ll want to speak with each of these professionals in turn to understand exactly how much your cost of surrogacy with a family member may be.
As another option, you can choose to work with a surrogacy agency — which can often quote you a surrogacy cost using a family member that includes these medical and legal costs. For example, American Surrogacy provides a breakdown of surrogacy costs here, and our specialists are always available to discuss your particular cost estimate for your situation.
So, How Much Does Surrogacy Cost with a Family Member?
If you’ve researched surrogacy before, you know the process can cost somewhere around $100,000-$150,000. The good news is that, if you choose to work with a surrogate mother who is a family member, the cost will be significantly lower. At American Surrogacy, you can usually expect your overall cost to be around half of normal if you complete an identified surrogacy. If you have identified a gestational carrier, our program fees are reduced.
Regardless of whether or not you work with a surrogacy agency, you will spend a substantial amount of money on your surrogacy. While it can be tempting to find areas where you can reduce the costs, we encourage you to consider the quality of a service more so than the cost, even when hiring out professionals a la carte.
Surrogacy is a life-changing journey; what may be more expensive now will be worth it in the end when you have your precious little bundle of joy.
Why You Should Work with American Surrogacy
If you choose to complete an identified surrogacy, you certainly have the option of an independent surrogacy — in which you solely work with a surrogacy attorney and fertility clinic. However, this can be a stressful journey for intended parents, especially those who are new to the surrogacy process. Instead, we recommend that you work with a professional agency such as American Surrogacy.
As mentioned above, how much surrogacy costs using a family member at our agency is substantially cheaper than using a gestational carrier found through our program — and you will have the same financial protection that other intended parents do. While we do reduce our agency fees for these situations, the number of services (outside of matching) that you receive will not be reduced. We will provide the same quality services to start you on your surrogacy journey, including:
- Screening and assessment of both parties
- Obtaining and evaluating medical records
- Conducting insurance reviews
- Coordinating escrow services
- And more
But, you may be asking, “If I’m working with someone I already trust, why do I still need to undergo screening?”
There is a lot more to surrogacy than you may know, especially if this is your first time in the process. You may encounter unexpected emotions and complicated situations. For example, if your sister is carrying for you, latent feelings of jealousy and sibling rivalries can easily reappear. What will you do if things don’t go as planned? How will your family respond to a failed pregnancy or embryo transfer?
This screening will help you and your gestational carrier prepare for these difficult situations, should they occur. If you choose to work with our agency, a surrogacy specialist will also be there to offer support and counseling every step of the process. The cost of surrogacy with a family member will include this specialist’s case management services; she will manage the details of your surrogacy while you focus on the bigger picture of bringing your child into the world.
You always have the right to decide whether you wish to pursue an agency-assisted or independent identified surrogacy. We encourage you to do extensive research and speak at length with your prospective surrogate before choosing the path that is best for both of you. In the meantime, to learn more about estimated gestational surrogacy cost with a sister, sister-in-law, cousin or other relative, please contact our surrogacy specialists today.