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Surrogacy in California for surrogates and intended parents

When you first begin looking into surrogacy – whether you are a woman who is interested in becoming a surrogate mother or intended parents hoping to grow your family through surrogacy – it can feel a little overwhelming. We're here to help you navigate surrogacy in California, from the surrogacy process, to how to become a surrogate, how to find a surrogate and much more.

Surrogacy in California

Surrogacy in California

California is a surrogacy-friendly state for both gestational carriers and intended parents. Whether you in live in a large city, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco or Sacramento – or anywhere in between – here's everything you need to know about gestational surrogacy.

Surrogacy allows couples and individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ages and sexual orientations to build their families.

The types of intended parents from California who may use surrogacy to grow their families are:

• Heterosexual couples who have struggled with infertility
• Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child
• Intended parents who have a genetic defect or health condition they don't want to pass onto the child
• Same sex intended parents who want to have a genetic link to their baby

Each surrogacy journey is unique.

Your guide to surrogacy in California

Become a surrogate in California

Review surrogate requirements in California and see how to apply to become a surrogate.

Become a Surrogate in CA

Find a surrogate in California

Looking for a surrogate in California? See how to find your perfect surrogate match.

Find a surrogate in CA

Surrogacy Laws in California

Understand what the surrogacy laws are in the state of California for surrogates and intended parents.

California Surrogacy Laws

Surrogacy & egg donation in California

Become a Parent in California

See how to take the first steps in becoming a parent through surrogacy.

Become a parent in CA

Surrogacy process in California

See how the surrogacy process works at Circle Surrogacy in California.

Surrogacy Process in CA

Find an egg donor in CA

Our egg donor database is filled with hundreds of bright, young women. Filter your search and find an egg donor near you.

Find an egg donor in CA

How much does surrogacy in California cost?

Surrogacy costs in California can vary for each individual journey, and depend on a few factors: whether or not you require an egg donor, your location to your clinic and surrogate (and/or egg donor), and the type of program you choose.

Surrogacy costs can be compartmentalized into four categories:

• Professional Fees
• Gestational Carrier (i.e., surrogate) and Egg Donor Fees
• Medical & Insurance Expenses
• IVF Expenses

Most agencies do not offer fixed costs for any of these cost categories, which can result in surprise fees and financial uncertainty throughout the surrogacy journey. However, Circle Surrogacy fixes the costs for Professional Fees, Gestational Carrier and Egg Donor Fees and Medical & Insurance Expenses.

For intended parents living in California, Circle Surrogacy offers two exclusive fixed price program options: our Fixed Cost program and our Journey Protection Guarantee program. Both options have fixed costs that do not change during your journey, so you can plan for costs with no surprises.

More about costs

Surrogate mother pay: how much do surrogates make?

When women apply to become surrogate mothers, they do so because they have the desire to help others experience the joy of parenthood. While there is a monetary incentive to be a surrogate, the indescribable sense of fulfillment our surrogates get from helping intended families bring a child into the world cannot be found doing anything else.

As a surrogate, you have the opportunity to earn between $50,000 and $60,000 in payments and benefits. Surrogate mothers are paid a base fee of between $30,000-$40,000, plus additional compensation and benefits for milestones along their journey.

How much you will make as a surrogate will depend on a few criteria: the state you live in, if you have insurance, and if you're an experienced gestational carrier.

In California, surrogate mothers are compensated a base fee of $40,000. California is a "high-demand state" for surrogates, due to its favorable location to airports and clinics.

Calculate your surrogate pay with our surrogate compensation calculator.

Surrogate payments are made monthly, and surrogate mothers start earning compensation and benefits even before they are pregnant.
Surrogate Pay details
How to find a surrogacy agency.

How to find a surrogacy agency.

For both surrogate mothers and intended parents in California, the best place to start a surrogacy journey and finding a surrogacy agency is by doing your research. This can be in the form of online research, speaking with IVF doctors, or connecting with others who have been through the surrogacy process as surrogates or parents.

3 Steps to finding a surrogacy agency:

1. Do your research! Learn all there is to know about surrogacy.
2. Write down what's important to you in a surrogacy journey. What type of surrogate/intended parent relationship are you looking for? What level of surrogacy support?
3. Make a list of agencies that fit your criteria, and reach out. Finding an agency that "feels right" is important!

Next Steps for California Intended Parents:

Once intended parents have identified 1-3 agencies that seem like a good fit, it's a good idea to fill out an interest form and connect with the parent intake team. Once they reach out, you can decide if you're ready for a surrogacy consultation.

Next Steps for California Surrogate Applicants:

If you're ready to apply to become a surrogate mother, reading through surrogate requirements is a good way to see if you will qualify. Once you fill out a surrogate application, a member of the surrogate intake team – who is an experienced surrogate herself – will reach out to you to answer questions, clarify answers on your application and speak to you about next steps in the application process.

FAQ's


As you consider parenthood, you may have questions along the way. Don't worry. With 20+ years of experience, we've helped intended parents navigate surrogacy and their journeys to parenthood, and have answered almost every question out there!
What is the cost of surrogacy?
The cost for gestational surrogacy ranges depending upon the program chosen (we have a variety of programs to choose from) and whether a donor is needed. The ranges include: all agency fees, attorneys’ fees, screening and surrogate fees, and insurance costs. They do not include IVF costs. To find out the costs of our various programs, please click here.
How does the matching process work?

Once we have accepted a surrogate applicant into our program, our matching and legal teams determine possible matching options based on a variety of factors, including: the state she lives in, whether she has insurance, and the matching preferences from both intended parents and surrogates.

We will send the redacted profile of the intended parents (with no identifying information) to the surrogate. If she expresses interest, we will send her profile to the intended parents, similarly leaving out all identifying information. Once the surrogate and the prospective parents express a mutual interest, we will put them in touch by telephone, Skype or email so they can begin to get to know each other.

After communicating with each other, the surrogate and the prospective parents meet in person at their mutual convenience: at the surrogate’s home, the intended parents’ home, or some place in between. If the surrogate has children and/or a partner or spouse, the intended parents meet them as well.

An IVF physician medically screens them after a match is made. If for any reason the surrogate doesn’t pass the medical screening (which is rare), Circle Surrogacy presents a new match free of charge.

What does the legal process involve before and after the birth?
Circle’s legal team coordinates with local attorneys to ensure you are properly matched with a surrogate in a state where you can accomplish the necessary legal work to finalize your parental rights. Once you are matched, we negotiate contracts on your behalf. Your surrogate and your egg donor (if needed) will have independent counsel. Depending on a variety of factors, your surrogacy legal work may include a pre-birth order, a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity, a judgment of paternity, a custody orders, or an adoption.
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