Apply to Become a Surrogate in California
California is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states in the country and has held this status for many years. If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate in California, welcome! Surrogacy offers a unique opportunity to help loving and deserving couples and individuals become parents. Gestational surrogates are deeply admired for their part in this journey.
Whether you’re from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, or elsewhere in the Golden State, Reproductive Possibilities works with surrogates to help make parenthood a reality for as many growing families as possible.
Your Guide to Becoming a California Surrogate
If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate in California and have questions about the process, you’ve come to the right place. Please review our detailed guide below for everything you need to know about becoming a surrogate with our program:
- Surrogacy in California
- Surrogate Requirements in California
- Surrogate Compensation in California
- How Surrogates Match with Parents
- Benefits of Being a California Surrogate
- How to Become a Surrogate in California
Surrogacy in California
As noted above, California is very friendly to surrogacy. The state offers some of the country’s top-rated fertility clinics as well as some of the most progressive laws, regulations, and legal practices for surrogacy agreements.
What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy, also referred to as gestational surrogacy, is an arrangement where a woman carries a child for a couple or individual. The surrogate is not the child’s biological mother; the embryo is created using eggs and sperm from the intended parent(s) and/or a donor.
How does surrogacy work in California?
California law clearly defines surrogacy as legal and recognizes the validity of gestational surrogacy arrangement contracts. The rights of both surrogates and intended parents are well protected in California and have been since surrogacy was made legal in the state back in 2013. Establishing parental rights is straightforward for both intended parents and surrogates. In most cases, surrogates rarely have to appear in court for any legal matters.
Surrogate Requirements in California
In order to become a surrogate in our program, you must first meet our surrogacy requirements. These criteria are in place to ensure the best possible health of every surrogate and baby she carries. Please review our list of requirements before applying to the program.
To become a surrogate in California, you must...
- Be between the ages of 21 and 44 years old (experienced surrogates may prove to be an exception to this)
- Have given birth previously with no medical complications and less than three c-sections
- Be a non-smoker
- Have a BMI between 18 and 33
Every application is reviewed individually. If all criteria are fulfilled, you will be accepted into our program. After this stage, California surrogates are now ready to be matched with their intended parents! Learn more about surrogate requirements.
Surrogate Pay in California
Surrogates are compensated for their time and effort. Surrogacy requires an emotional, mental, and physical commitment that is taken seriously and deeply appreciated by all involved. Surrogate compensation typically ranges from around $55,000 to $60,000 in California. To elaborate further, a single fetus will typically earn a surrogate $40,000. In the event of a birth consisting of multiples, each additional fetus can earn $5,000. Experienced surrogates do normally earn higher compensation.
Should you have any questions about surrogate compensation once accepted into the Reproductive Possibilities surrogacy program, our team will be happy to assist in clarifying anything needed.
How California Surrogates and Parents Are Matched
Before being accepted into our surrogacy program, you’ll have completed an online application and successfully run through the screening process. After being accepted, it’s time for the matching stage of the journey to begin. Being matched with intended parents for surrogates is an easy step as all you need to do is let the Reproductive Possibilities team know your answers to a few questions, such as what type of intended parents you would prefer to work with.
At the same time, the Reproductive Possibilities team will be in contact with intended parents, asking them similar questions in order to identify and form a prospective match. If we feel that a match can potentially be made, then we’ll organize a conference between the surrogate and intended parents so that an initial discussion can take place. Topics covered during these conferences typically include:
- How would everyone prefer to communicate?
- Is there a willingness to move forward in the event of multiples?
- What are the family and other support systems like?
If there is general agreement throughout these discussions and all parties agree to move forward, then a match has been made. Reproductive Possibilities will continue to assist with facilitating future discussions per the surrogacy arrangement with the surrogate and her intended parents.
To learn more, visit our surrogacy process page for surrogate mothers.
Benefits of Becoming a Surrogate in California
In California, there are many benefits to becoming a surrogate mother. Not only are surrogates well compensated for their dedication toward helping growing families, but they are also connected with the state’s leading clinics and hospitals throughout the surrogacy process, whether you reside in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, or elsewhere in the state.
Of course, at its core, surrogacy is a life-changing act, one that is rarely replicated – as a surrogate, you are making the dream of parenthood a reality for a loving couple or individual who might otherwise be unable to grow their family. At Reproductive Possibilities, our admiration for surrogates is demonstrated through every step in the process.
How to Become a Surrogate in California
We are grateful that you are considering becoming a surrogate in California. For those who are ready to start this process, the first step is to complete an online application. Within this application, you’ll be asked about your medical and personal histories. Our team will review your information closely, and if you meet all of our requirements, you’ll be accepted into our surrogacy program.
After this, you will be asked to attend a series of interviews with our team so we can gain a more in-depth understanding of your history. This can include additional medical details, criminal history, etc.
Of course, if you have any questions along the way, please do not hesitate to ask. We are here for you and want to ensure the best possible surrogate experience.