Apply to Become a Surrogate in South Carolina
Your Guide to Becoming a South Carolina Surrogate
Prospective surrogates of South Carolina can find all of the information they need to kick off their surrogacy journey below:
- Surrogacy in South Carolina
- Surrogate Requirements in South Carolina
- Surrogate Compensation in South Carolina
- How Surrogates Match with Parents
- Benefits of Being a South Carolina Surrogate
- How to Become a Surrogate in South Carolina
Surrogacy in South Carolina
South Carolina is one of the many states in the U.S. that does not have any specific legislation that regulates gestational surrogacy. However, the practice of gestational surrogacy is considered legal across the state. As always, for surrogates and intended parents to protect their rights and interests, it’s important that both parties connect with reputable third-party reproduction agencies that have extensive experience with facilitating surrogacy arrangements.
What is Surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries a baby for someone else. Surrogacy is commonly used by individuals and couples who are unable to carry or deliver a baby themselves, whether because of fertility complications, medical issues, or a lack of a uterus (i.e. single dads, same-sex male couples, etc.). It’s important to note that gestational surrogates are not the genetic or biological mothers of the children they carry. All genetic materials are provided by either intended parents or donors (egg and/or sperm).
How does surrogacy work in South Carolina?
In the state of South Carolina, intended parents and surrogates can pursue surrogacy arrangements without issue. Contracts for compensated gestational surrogacy are allowed as long as an agreed-upon contract is in place that represents all parties.
Surrogate Requirements in South Carolina
The health of the surrogate and the baby she carries are of the utmost importance. As such, women who are interested in becoming surrogates must fulfill certain requirements in order to be accepted into the Reproductive Possibilities program. Before filling out an application to become a surrogate in South Carolina, we kindly ask that you review these requirements carefully:
- Surrogates are required to be between the ages of 18 and 44
- Surrogates must maintain a healthy body-weight ratio, with a BMI that falls between 18 to 33
- Surrogates must have a healthy reproductive history that features at least one birth with no medical complications.
- Surrogates must have had less than three c-sections in the past
- Surrogates must not consume tobacco products or vape
Learn more about surrogate requirements.
Surrogate Pay in South Carolina
Gestational surrogates are well-compensated for the time and effort they give to the surrogacy process. In South Carolina, surrogate compensation breaks down as follows:
- A base fee of $35,000 for a birth with a single fetus
- If the surrogate carries multiple fetuses, she can be eligible to earn an extra $5,000
- Between the base fee, reimbursements for expenses, and supplementary funds, surrogates normally earn a total compensation between $55,000 and $60,000
- Gestational surrogates who have served as surrogates in the past can request a higher compensation
Upon acceptance into our surrogacy program, the Reproductive Possibilities team can provide further clarification about surrogate compensation in South Carolina.
How South Carolina Surrogates and Parents Are Matched
Reproductive Possibilities has worked with countless surrogates and intended parents across the country and can help you connect with a great family that matches your values and preferences. After acceptance into our program, we will connect with you directly to talk about your expectations of the surrogacy process. During this conversation, you can tell us everything that we need to know, including whether or not you have a preference for the type of family you want to work with. You can also specify if you want to work with intended parents from South Carolina.
We pose these same questions to our intended parents. Using the answers to these questions, we identify potential matches between surrogates and intended parents. When we think we’ve found a great match, we set up a conference call so that everyone can discuss the most pivotal details of a surrogacy arrangement. This conversation will cover a wide range of topics, including:
- How will surrogate and intended parents communicate?
- How often will they communicate?
- Is the surrogate comfortable with carrying multiple fetuses?
- Where does everyone stand in terms of pregnancy reduction or termination?
- Does everyone have a solid network of family and/or friends that can support them emotionally during this journey?
If everyone agrees on the above points and decides to take the next step, we consider it a match.
To learn more, visit our surrogacy process page for surrogate mothers.
Are you an intended parent looking to get matched with a surrogate in South Carolina? Visit our Intended Parents page to get started.
Benefits of Becoming a Surrogate in South Carolina
Becoming a surrogate in South Carolina offers women several exciting benefits to consider:
- Competitive compensation
- Access to great fertility clinics and hospitals, regardless of whether you live in Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, or elsewhere
- Close proximity to amazing intended parents in South Carolina who are ready to match with a surrogate
How to Become a Surrogate in South Carolina
If you’re ready to start the journey of becoming a gestational surrogate, submit your online application to our program. Our staff reviews every application on an individual basis to ensure your personal and medical histories are carefully considered, and if we feel that you are a solid fit for our program, then you will be asked to take part in a couple of interviews with our team, where we will take a deeper dive into your medical and personal histories.
If you have any questions for our team, especially during these interviews, please do not hesitate to ask.