Apply to Become a Surrogate in New Jersey
Your Guide to Becoming a New Jersey Surrogate
Here is everything you need to know about applying to become a surrogate in the state of New Jersey.
Below you'll find information about:
- Surrogacy in New Jersey
- Surrogate Requirements
- Surrogate Compensation
- How Surrogates Match with Parents
- Benefits of Being a New Jersey Surrogate
- How to Apply
Surrogacy in New Jersey
New Jersey is a surrogacy-friendly state for surrogates and intended parents.
What is surrogacy?
Through in vitro fertilization (IVF), intended parents can establish a biological relation to the child by using their own eggs and/or sperm, or they may use an egg and/or sperm donor. The eggs are fertilized outside the surrogate’s body in an IVF facility and the resulting embryo (or embryos) is transferred to her uterus.
Women from New Jersey can apply to become surrogates to match with intended parents (IPs) and carry their baby(ies) and help the IPs achieve their dreams of parenthood.
New Jersey Surrogate Requirements and Qualifications
If you live in New Jersey and you're interested in becoming a surrogate, there are certain criteria you must meet. And while each surrogate application is considered on a case-by-case basis, basic qualifications include:
- Must have given birth before (with no medical complications and no more than three c-sections)
- Non-smoker
- Between the ages of 21 and 44 years old (exceptions may be made for experienced surrogates)
- Have a BMI of 18-33
- Live in the U.S. (we do not currently work with women from HI, LA, MI, or AK)
How Much Surrogates Get Paid
Surrogate mothers are compensated for their emotional, physical and mental dedication to their surrogacy journey. A single fetus can earn a surrogate $35,000 and an additional $5,000 for a multiple birth. An experienced gestational carrier typically receives a higher compensation.
How Surrogates and Parents Are Matched
Once you are accepted into the surrogate program, you will be ready to match with intended parents.
Reproductive Possibilities works with intended parents from all over the country, and all over the world. As a surrogate from New Jersey you will have a say in the type of intended parent with which you wish to match.
The Matching Process
RP will begin sharing your surrogate profile with possible intended parent matches. Once intended parents express interest in your profile, we will recommend scheduling a conference call with a member of the Reproductive Possibilities team. We will host the call and ask all parties a series of questions including:
- Preferred forms of communication
- Willingness to carry multiples, reduce and/or terminate a pregnancy
- Family and support systems.
We ask all parties to communicate with our team the following day to discuss whether you would like to move forward to matching.
If you and the intended parents both agree to move forward, then you are considered matched, and the screening process begins! If you feel that it’s not a good fit, share your thoughts and concerns with us, so we can help to find intended parents that are a better match.
Once matched, your coordinator in our office will share contact information to begin communication.
Building a Relationship
The relationship that develops between you and your intended parents may be slow to start but will likely change as the process continues. The level of communication you develop with your intended parents is unique to your journey and based on each party’s comfortability. You’ll discuss communication on the initial phone call prior to being matched.
Benefits of Being a New Jersey Surrogate
There are many benefits to being a surrogate from New Jersey!
- RP is located in NJ! Our office is conveniently located in Montvale, NJ. Our team is always available to meet with you in person and walk you through the surrogate process and answer any of your questions.
- Local Intended Parents. While RP works with intended parents from around the country and the world, we also work with many parents who live in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania if you are interested in working with local parents.
- Work with local clinics. Because RP is located in New Jersey, we have developed strong partnerships with many clinics in NJ and neighboring states. If you're matched with IPs working with a local clinic (and there are many!) you will travel less for your screening and transfer.
How to Apply to Be a Surrogate
The first step is to fill out a detailed application to share your medical and personal history. We will review the information provided with a focus on your pregnancy/delivery history, as well as your understanding of the surrogacy process and your support system.
If your application meets our surrogate requirements, you will be contacted to complete a series of interviews with our experienced team, where we’ll ask additional questions, discuss your medical and criminal background and answer any questions you may have about surrogacy, our support and your next steps.