Surrogacy in California

Yes. Many families begin surrogacy planning while they’re still creating embryos. We can connect you with trusted IVF clinics or coordinate with your current clinic to freeze embryos for future transfer. Matching and legal work can move forward in parallel. Learn more on our Become a Parent page.

Our surrogates here at Physician’s Surrogacy apply from many US states and complete medical, psychological, and background screening before joining the program. We then match you with someone whose preferences, location, and clinic fit your needs. See how matching works on our Become a Parent page.

The safest way to find a surrogate is through a reputable, physician-managed agency like Physician’s Surrogacy. We protect you by pre-screening candidates before you match. Our Medically Cleared program means your surrogate has already passed rigorous medical and psychological checks, minimizing the risk of a false start or failed screening later. Learn about our process on the Become a Parent page.

At Physician’s Surrogacy, our programs are Fixed and Flat. We offer four options: Physician Plus at $193,000 (12-14 months, priority medical access), Surrogacy Flat Rate at $145,000 (18-22 months), Surrogacy Livebirth Guarantee at $208,000 (18-22 months, all-inclusive GC IVF), and All Inclusive Bundle at $255,000 (18-22 months, donor eggs + GC IVF included).

At Physician’s Surrogacy, surrogacy costs are Fixed and Flat. Our four programs range from $145,000 to $255,000 depending on your needs. There are no hidden fees and no surprises after matching.

A gestational surrogate is a woman who carries a pregnancy created through IVF using eggs and sperm from the intended parents or donors. Because the embryo comes from those eggs and sperm, she has no genetic link to the baby but receives medical care and compensation. Learn more on our Gestational Surrogacy page.

A surrogate mother, or gestational carrier, is a woman who carries a pregnancy for intended parents using an embryo created through IVF. The embryo comes from the parents’ or donors’ eggs and sperm, so the surrogate is not genetically related to the baby. Read more on our Gestational Surrogacy page.

Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman carries and delivers a baby for intended parents who cannot safely carry a pregnancy. In gestational surrogacy, embryos from the parents or donors are transferred to the surrogate’s uterus using IVF. The latter has no genetic link to the baby. Learn more in How Does Surrogacy Work.

Our program at Physician’s Surrogacy welcomes anyone to be parents. We’re talking single intended parents, heterosexual couples, and LGBTQ+ families. We focus on medical clearance, emotional readiness, and your ability to meet financial and legal requirements, not marital status or gender identity. During your consult, we review your situation and suggest the safest path forward. See more on our Become a Parent page.

People consider a surrogate when pregnancy is medically risky or impossible. That may include uterine factors, repeated IVF failure, certain heart or autoimmune conditions, or a history of complicated pregnancies. Same-sex male couples and single men also use gestational surrogacy. Your fertility specialist can tell you if surrogacy is a safe option.

Surrogacy costs can vary based on the surrogate’s location, experience, pregnancy history, insurance, and the benefits you choose. Agency fees, legal work, and medical care also affect the total. During your consult, we review each line item with you. See our surrogacy cost guide for details.

Many women choose to become gestational surrogates because they want to help someone who can’t carry a pregnancy, often after seeing infertility in their own family or community. Others simply love being pregnant and feel called to support hopeful parents while receiving fair compensation.

Yes, there will be contracts with your surrogate. Once you match, each side works with an independent attorney to sign a detailed gestational surrogacy agreement. It covers medical decisions, payments, contact preferences, insurance, and delivery plans. Our team coordinates the process. Learn more in our surrogacy legal overview.

Most international parents travel to the US at least once for the birth and time with their baby. Many choose an additional trip early on to create embryos and meet the surrogate in person. If you prefer fewer trips, embryos or eggs/sperm can often be shipped to a US clinic instead. Details are outlined on our Become a Parent page.

The surrogacy process usually moves through consultation, matching, screening, legal contracts, embryo transfer, pregnancy, and delivery. You meet your team, review surrogate profiles, complete medical and legal steps, then your IVF clinic handles treatment while we coordinate the journey. Read the full timeline in How Does Surrogacy Work.

It depends on the agency you choose to work with. Most agencies have a 6-18 month waiting list to match with a surrogate. Some also require you to sign a contract and pay agency fees for them to begin the process of matching. Physician’s Surrogacy offers complimentary matching, and you can match with your Surrogate as quickly as a week. On average, the typical timeline is two weeks.

Contact is flexible and tailored to everyone’s comfort level. Some families like regular calls and text updates; others prefer periodic check-ins. You, your surrogate, and your coordinator discuss expectations during matching and include them in your agreement, and the relationship often grows naturally over time. For guidance, see our surrogate relationship article.

All funds for your journey—including surrogate compensation and approved medical or travel expenses—are held in a secure escrow or trust account managed by a licensed third party. They pay your surrogate according to the contract, so money never passes directly between you and her. This keeps finances transparent and protects everyone. Learn more in Financing Your Surrogacy Journey.

Surrogacy has high success rates, but results depend on embryo quality, the surrogate’s health, and the IVF clinic’s experience. As an OB-managed agency, we uniquely offer Medically Cleared surrogates who have passed screening before you even match. This proactive oversight minimizes the risk of canceled cycles and fast-tracks your journey to a healthy pregnancy. You can learn more about success factors on our Gestational Surrogacy page.

Intended parents often combine several options: fertility or medical loans, surrogacy grants, personal savings, and lines of credit. For instance, we partner with specialized lenders like CapexMD, Prosper, and SoFi. During your consult, we can review common approaches and share resources that past families have used successfully. For an overview of typical costs and payment ideas, see Financing Your Surrogacy Journey.

No. In US gestational surrogacy, your baby’s birth certificate lists only the legal parents, not the surrogate. Our legal team prepares the proper court orders so your names are on the certificate and you hold full parental rights from birth. For more details, visit our Surrogacy and Birthright Citizenship guide.