Rest assured, all surrogate-related costs are covered by the Intended Parents. Initially, you may incur small expenses, such as mailing your medical records.
Overview
This guide answers “Will there be any expenses for me during the surrogacy process?” for intended parents, with a focus on planning, common variables, and the questions that reduce risk and surprises.
Typical workflow (high level)
- Clarify your plan: clinic choice, embryo plan, and timeline goals.
- Build your team: agency coordination, legal counsel, and insurance/escrow planning.
- Matching: preferences, introductions, and alignment on expectations.
- Legal + medical readiness: contracts, clinic clearance, and scheduling.
- Pregnancy + delivery: coordinated care, milestones, and parentage steps.
What can vary (and why)
- Clinic schedules and medical protocols (individualized to the situation).
- State and international legal requirements (especially for parentage workflows).
- Matching preferences and availability (fit matters).
- Insurance and financial structure (coverage details can change).
- Logistics like travel, time zones, and appointment availability.
Questions to ask (so you don’t get surprised later)
- What are the next 2–3 steps in my specific situation?
- What documents or records should I prepare before we start?
- Which decisions should I make now vs later?
- Who will be my primary point of contact during the journey?
- How will we communicate and share updates (email, calls, portal)?
- What are the typical milestones from start to finish?
- How do we establish parentage and protect everyone legally?
- What should we confirm with the fertility clinic before matching?
Next steps
Important note
This page is educational information only and is not medical, legal, or tax advice. Always confirm specifics with qualified professionals and your care team.
See the sources section below for reference links when available.
What to prepare (so the next step is faster)
- Your clinic plan (where embryos are stored, and any timeline constraints).
- A preliminary budget and a list of “must-have” vs “nice-to-have” preferences.
- A shortlist of attorneys (or questions to select one).
- A plan for insurance and escrow (who is paying what and how it’s managed).
- Your preferred communication style and expectations for updates.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Relying on assumptions instead of getting the “who pays/does what” in writing.
- Comparing costs or success rates without confirming the exact definition being used.
- Skipping a professional review when the decision has legal, medical, or tax consequences.
- Waiting too long to clarify timelines, documentation needs, and scheduling constraints.
When to get professional help
If your situation involves cross-state or international elements, complex medical history, insurance uncertainty, or legal/tax questions, get qualified professional guidance early. It’s almost always cheaper (and less stressful) to prevent surprises than to fix them mid-journey.