The Ultimate Guide to Surrogacy in Virginia

Virginia is a surrogacy-friendly state for both gestational carriers and intended parents. Whether you live in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Charlottesville—or anywhere else in the state—you'll find everything you need to know about gestational surrogacy on this page.

Surrogacy enables couples and individuals from various backgrounds, ages, and sexual orientations to build their families. Intended parents who use surrogacy include:

• Heterosexual couples who have struggled with infertility
• Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child
• Intended parents who want to avoid passing on a genetic defect or health condition to their child
• LGBTQ+ intended parents who wish to have a genetic connection to their baby

Each surrogacy journey is as unique as the intended parents themselves and their reasons for taking the first steps.

Surrogacy and egg donation helps straight and LGBTQ+ singles and couples in Virginia grow their families. Virginia is a surrogacy friendly state, and intended parents will find many top-rated IVF clinics in the area and on the east coast.

Below you'll find information about surrogacy in Virginia, including what the surrogacy process looks like, how much surrogacy costs in Virginia, what surrogacy program can help you, and so much more. The process can feel overwhelming at first, but the more you read and research, the more familiar it will become to you. Many professionals are involved in a surrogacy journey, and it is a life-changing experience.

We're ready to help intended parents from all over Virginia, from Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Charlottesville—or anywhere else in the state.

Circle Surrogacy has two offices close to Virginia – one in Raleigh, NC and one if Washington, DC –should you ever want to meet with us in person.

Scheduling a consultation is the next step for intended parents once they've identified surrogacy as the way they would like to grow their family and have selected an agency.

A surrogacy consultation is an in-depth meeting (about 2 to 2 1/2 hours long) with a parent intake consultant and a lawyer. This private meeting allows us to get to know you and your story, as well as talk about surrogacy and the process as it relates to your situation. We'll help you understand surrogacy programs and surrogacy costs, as well.

If you're not ready for a full consultation but would like more information, you can schedule a pre-consultation with our intake team by contacting [email protected] and someone will reach out to coordinate a time.

At Circle, surrogacy costs in Virginia are fixed in an all-inclusive cost program called the Journey Protection Guarantee Program.

In general, surrogacy costs can be divided into 4 categories:

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

Circle Surrogacy offers fixed costs for professional fees, gestational carrier and egg donor fees, and medical & insurance expenses, something that sets us apart from most agencies. Without fixed costs, surprise fees and financial uncertainty can be a part of the surrogacy journey.

Circle Surrogacy's programs and pricing are structured to achieve two primary goals: success and cost security.

Circle is proud to offer intended parents in Virginia our Journey Protection Guarantee Program, designed to help as many intended parents as possible bring home a baby while reducing variable costs.

Journey Protection Guarantee Program

Surrogacy only: $157,750
Surrogacy plus egg donation: $184,750
(both prices exclude IVF)

Our Journey Protection Guarantee offers Intended Parents:

• An all-inclusive program that covers all Surrogate fees and expenses for unlimited transfers and any complications that may arise during your journey
• No surprise costs or invoices, even in scenarios that require a rematch with a new Surrogate
  

The costs outlined above are for our Surrogacy Only and Surrogacy Plus Egg Donation Programs. For more information about the costs of our other programs, please email us or call us at 617.439.9900.

One of the most exciting milestones in your surrogacy journey is being matched with your surrogate mother. We work with many surrogate mothers from Virginia, in addition to those from surrounding states. With headquarters in Boston and an office in New York City, we are well-represented on the East Coast and in Virginia, making it even easier for surrogates and intended parents to connect. While it’s not a requirement to live near your surrogate, some intended parents prefer to be near the woman carrying their baby(ies).

Our Intended Parent Profile

We use the intended parent profile to get to know you and help our Matching Team find your surrogate match. This profile is filled with information about you and your:

• Relationship (if you are coupled)
• Family
• Hobbies
• Plans for parenthood
• Reasons for seeking surrogacy

Sharing photos of yourself, your loved ones, and anything else that gives a good sense of who you are as people is an important part of finding the ideal match.

Intended Parent Matching Criteria

In addition to your profile, there are certain criteria on which you will be matched with your gestational carrier. Intended parent matching criteria includes your preferences on:

• Level of communication with your surrogate during the journey
• Location of the surrogate mother
• Number of embryos to transfer
• Views on selective reduction and termination

Even if you are looking for a surrogate on your own, it can be helpful to consider these criteria when searching for a good match.

Egg donors are sometimes needed by intended parents who want to grow their family. Choosing the eggs of a young woman who will provide half of your child's biology is a significant part of the journey to becoming parents.

Qualities to Consider

Carefully thinking about the type of women you're looking for is the first step to finding your perfect egg donor match. Are you looking for someone who has similar qualities that you or your partner possess? Or do you wish for a woman whose traits complement your personality or appearance? These are a few things to think about when beginning your egg donor search.

As you start searching, have some thoughts as to what's important to you in an egg donor match, such as:

• Physical attributes (hair/eye color)
• Race/ethnicity
• Education
• Previous fertility
• Geography

And remember, nature vs. nurture – not every characteristic or trait is hereditary!

Search Through Our Egg Donor Database

Starting your egg donor search in an egg donor database is an excellent idea. Most databases allow you to search for egg donors based on certain criteria. Circle Surrogacy's egg donor database is easy to use and simple to navigate.

Within each donor profile, you'll find a tremendous amount of additional information, including:

• Personal information
• Favorite hobbies, activities, and foods
• Family medical history
• Motivation for becoming a donor

It's okay if you're not sure about what you're looking for in a donor. The "I'll know her when I see her" approach works well for some intended parents.

Compensated surrogacy is legal in the great state of Virginia. However, intended parents are not able to obtain Pre-Birth Orders per court of law. With a surrogacy birth, the gestational carrier is deemed the mother of the child. Once the baby is born, the intended parents must complete an administrative birth certificate amendment process in order to have their names on the birth certificate.

This process does not require court approval or even a court hearing. Rather, the gestational carrier completes paperwork that is submitted to the State Registrar of Vital Records three days after the birth of the child. This paperwork includes a document relinquishing the carrier’s parental rights, along with the gestational carrier agreement and a statement from the physician who performed the assisted conception procedure. Thereafter, it takes at least 12 weeks to receive an amended birth certificate.

For same-sex married couples, the birth certificate amendment process is often followed by a second parent adoption so that the intended parent who is not genetically related to the child may adopt the child to cement the parent-child relationship.

There is so much to learn about becoming a surrogate. We're here to help you navigate surrogacy in Virginia, from understanding what a surrogate is, what to expect, how being a surrogate can affect your life, to how to apply become a surrogate mother.

Virginia is a surrogacy-friendly state, and its eastern location makes it easily accessible to top-rated IVF clinics. We work women from all over Virginia, from Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Charlottesville—or anywhere else in the state.

Circle Surrogacy has two offices close to Virginia – one in Raleigh, NC and one if Washington, DC –should you ever want to meet with us in person.

Read on to see how rewarding being a surrogate can be when you help those who aren't able to have a baby on their own experience the joys of parenthood.

A woman who wishes to carry a baby for someone else is called a surrogate. You may also see or hear the terms surrogate mother, gestational carrier or gestational surrogate. Surrogates carry babies for Intended Parents who are unable to have a baby on their own. Most surrogate mothers are gestational surrogates, meaning the surrogate mother does not use her own eggs and doesn't share any genetics with the baby. Surrogates are compensated and protected legally by a contract signed by all parties.

Circle Surrogacy only works with gestational carriers – women who do not share biology with the baby they are carrying.

Surrogates are caring, selfless and generous. They understand the joy of parenthood and want to give that gift to others who need help.

At Circle, our Virginia surrogates receive the support and guidance of our experienced social workers and program coordinators, many who have been surrogates themselves. We support women wherever they are in the process whether they are ready to apply now or are interested but want to talk with experienced surrogates or Surrogate Advisors. Here is an overview of the process:

• Pre-screening
• Consultation
• Matching with intended parents
• Medical screening and legal contracts
• Monitoring appointments and embryo transfer
• Pregnancy
• Delivery

Learn more about the surrogacy process at Circle.

Virginia residents who wish to apply to become a surrogate can work with Circle Surrogacy. We can help you become a surrogate in Richmond, Norfolk, or anywhere else in Virginia. Since 1995, we've helped numerous intended parents and surrogates achieve successful surrogacies in the East and all over the United States.

Requirements for Becoming a Surrogate in Virginia

Here are some requirements an applicant must meet to become a surrogate in Virginia:

• Has delivered a child of her own and is currently parenting at least one child.
• Has had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, as documented by medical records.
• Is between 21 and 41 years of age. · Typically has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no higher than 32. Calculate my BMI.
• Is a citizen, legal resident, or legal immigrant of the United States. If a surrogate is a legal resident or legal immigrant of the United States, the surrogate must be able to provide documentation that is valid for at least 2 years.
• Does not participate in the following government aid programs: cash assistance, welfare, public housing, and Section 8. All other forms of government assistance will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Review all surrogate requirements

Women apply to become surrogate mothers in Virginia because they want to help others experience the joy of parenthood. Even though compensation is part of becoming a surrogate, the monetary incentive isn't the primary reason women choose to become surrogates. Surrogates enjoy an indescribable sense of fulfillment from helping intended families bring a child into the world, and that's a feeling that cannot be found doing anything else.

As a Virginia surrogate, you have the opportunity to earn between $50,000 and $60,000 in total payments and benefits. Surrogate mothers are paid a base fee of $30,000 to $35,000 plus additional compensation and benefits for milestones along their journey.

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.

There is no substitute for experience, which is why Circle Surrogacy provides such excellent support to our surrogates. Many members of our staff have been surrogates themselves, and they understand what's needed on this unique journey.

Here are some of the ways we support surrogates:

• Top-notch prescreening, social work, and legal support from the moment they fill out their application until months after they deliver. Our team is ready to answer any question you can dream of (and then some).
• Private social groups for surrogates. We connect surrogate mothers through private social groups and schedule exclusive events with the Circle team.
• Experts you can trust. Having access to skilled, trustworthy experts is crucial. We work with attorneys who understand the details of ART (assisted reproduction technology) law and recommend them to surrogates when it's time to review legal contracts.

Read our blog post about the 10 steps to becoming a surrogate.

As a gestational surrogate in Virginia, being matched with appropriate intended parents is as important as your decision to become a surrogate. This is a personal journey unlike any other, and you want to be sure that you connect with and trust them fully. That’s why Circle Surrogacy built an extensive and thorough matching process.

First, our Surrogate Support Team searches for the perfect intended parent(s) based on personality fit and legal circumstances. You’ll get to review each other’s profiles, ask questions, and generally get to know one another. There will also be an initial Skype call and, possibly, an in-person meeting. It’s all about making sure both you and the intended parent(s) feel entirely comfortable with the match. And of course, the surrogacy agreement only moves forward if you do.

Circle works with single parents, LGBTQ+ and heterosexual couples, domestic and international couples, and more. We’re confident you’ll be able to find a great match.

Whether you are intended parents or interested in becoming a surrogate or egg donor, the surrogacy process can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Learning more about surrogacy is the first step of your journey.