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The Ultimate Guide to Surrogacy in Washington State

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 is natural to feel overwhelmed. Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation created this guide to help you navigate surrogacy in Washington, including understanding the surrogacy process, becoming a surrogate, finding a surrogate, and much more.

 Intended Parents Research Surrogacy on Computer

Table of Contents

 Why Washington Is a Great State for Surrogacy

Why Washington Is a Great State for Surrogacy

If you are a Washington resident who is ready to start a surrogacy journey, the state offers many benefits for you as intended parents, including:

Local IVF clinics. Circle works closely with the most successful IVF clinics, many of which are in Washington and the greater West Coast area. Working with a local clinic helps reduce travel costs associated with your journey. If you’re already established with an IVF clinic, we’re happy to work with your clinic of choice.

Local surrogates. If you're interested in working with a surrogate mother who lives close to you, Circle works with surrogates from all over the state of Washington.

We're accessible. Circle Surrogacy's San Francisco Bay Area office supports parents on the West Coast through their surrogacy journeys.

Flexible consultation schedule. We are available for consults via video calls during the day and evenings. We also hold consults in Washington and our San Francisco office.

Becoming a Parent through Surrogacy in Washington

Surrogacy helps straight and LGBTQ+ singles and couples in Washington grow their families. Washington is a surrogacy friendly state, and intended parents will find many top-rated IVF clinics along the west coast.

Below you'll find information about surrogacy in Washington, including what the surrogacy process looks like, how much surrogacy costs in Washington, how to find a surrogate or egg donor, 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 Washington – from Seattle to Spokane, Bellingham to Olympia, and the cities and towns in between.

The Surrogacy Process in Washington

You may choose to undergo your surrogacy journey independently or with the help of a surrogacy agency. Working with an agency such as Circle Surrogacy, which has more than 25 years of experience, can make navigating the milestones and events throughout your journey easier giving you time to look forward to the arrival of your baby!
Choosing an Agency
There are many surrogacy agencies in Washington, and there is one that is the right fit for you. Think about what's important to you–experience, location, size–then compare and contrast. Meeting with an agency is also a great way to see if you are compatible from a personality standpoint.
Finding a Surrogate and Egg Donor

If you will be using an egg donor, you will need to match with her before finding a surrogate. You can search our egg donor database where you'll find bright, ambitious young women who are excited to have the opportunity to help you grow your family.

Circle’s Matching Team will help you find the perfect surrogate match and encourage you to form a strong bond with the woman who will carry your baby(ies). If you'd like to find a surrogate in Washington, you can share your preference with your matching team.

Pregnancy and Parenthood
During your surrogate’s pregnancy, your agency will support you through each milestone, help you get ready for the birth, and ensure you are ready to return home with your baby safely and securely. Pregnancy is a wonderful time to bond with your surrogate. If she lives close to Washington, you might even visit her for appointments.
 Starting the Surrogacy Process

Starting the Surrogacy Process

Once you've decided to grow your family through surrogacy and you've selected an agency with which you'd like to meet, it’s time to schedule a consultation.

A surrogacy consultation is an in-depth meeting (about 2 to 2 1/2 hours long) with a parent intake consultant and a lawyer. At Circle, this private meeting gives us time 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 costs, as well. We hold these meetings both in person when we can, as well as via video.

At Circle, our complimentary consultations are for those who are emotionally and financially ready to begin a surrogacy journey within the next 12 months. This private meeting entails:

  • Speaking with an attorney who specializes in assisted reproductive technology (ART) law
  • Meeting with a process consultant
  • Receiving an overview of our agency protocols, surrogacy programs, surrogacy costs, insurance, and much more
  • Having the opportunity to ask any questions in a private setting

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.

 Becoming a Parent in Washington

Becoming a Parent in Washington

Understanding Washington’s surrogacy laws, the surrogacy process, and surrogacy costs will help you make an informed decision.

What Is the Cost of Surrogacy in Washington State?

Circle Surrogacy provides simple, straightforward pricing to minimize unexpected expenses. We have fixed costs for Professional Fees, Gestational Carrier and Egg Donor Fees, and Medical and Insurance Expenses.

Circle offers an all-inclusive cost program for intended parents in Washington called the Journey Protection Guarantee program. This program is 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.

Some intended parents may have the opportunity to qualify for financing for their journey. Please speak with our Parent Intake Team or Consultation Team or by filling out this form.

 Finding a Surrogate Mother in Washington

Finding a Surrogate Mother in Washington

Finding your surrogate match can be an exciting part of your journey to parenthood. Circle works with many surrogate mothers from Washington, as well as most of the surrounding states. Additionally, our new office in the San Francisco area makes it even easier for surrogates and intended parents to connect on the West Coast.

How to Start

Taking the time to think about what's important to you in a gestational carrier and journey will make it easier to find a surrogate on your own (if you're doing an independent journey) or to determine if your surrogacy agency has presented you with a good match.

Circle has an impressive track record for matching surrogates and intended parents - almost all develop strong bonds that last well beyond delivery.

How Circle Can Help

You'll be asked to fill out an intended parent profile that not only allows our Matching Team to get to know you better, but also helps us match you with an ideal surrogate.

This profile is filled with information about you, your relationship (if you have partner), your family, your hobbies, your plans for parenthood, and what brought you to surrogacy. We'll ask that you also share photos of yourself, your loved ones, and anything else that gives us a good sense of who you are as people.

In addition to your profile, there are certain criteria that will be used to match you with your gestational carrier. Intended parent matching criteria include preferences on:

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

If you are doing an independent surrogacy journey, you can use the points above as guidelines when looking for a suitable match.

 3 Criteria for Finding Surrogate Mothers

3 Criteria for Finding Surrogate Mothers

We recommend intended parents keep the following 3 criteria in mind when searching for a surrogate mother in Washington:

1. Does she meet the legal requirements? Our legal department ensures potential matches meet the requirements of Washington’s surrogacy laws before we present a surrogate’s profile to intended parents.

2. Do her personality and surrogacy expectations match yours? Your Matching Team will work together to ensure a good fit between your personality and the surrogate’s because we want the surrogate and intended parents to have a comfortable relationship throughout the journey.

3. Do you agree on expectations surrounding termination and selective reduction? Surrogates and intended parents should have the same views about the termination of a pregnancy in case a reduction or termination must be considered. Many intended parents we have worked with prefer to make the choice regarding termination.

 Search egg donor database

Finding an Egg Donor in Washington

It’s extremely important to find the right egg donor; she will provide half of your child's biology. Here are some questions to think about when you start looking for your best egg donor match:

  • Are there any qualities that your egg donor absolutely must have? That's a good place to start.
  • Are you looking for an egg donor who has similar qualities to you as intended parents or someone who complements your personality or appearance?
  • What are you looking for in education, appearance, ethnicity, and personality?

The first place most intended parents start their egg donor search is in an egg donor database. Circle's egg donor database is easy to use and allows you to search by specific criteria, including:

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

Don’t worry if you're not completely sure about what you’re looking for in a donor. Circle is dedicated to helping you make a great match.

 Surrogacy Laws in Washington State

Surrogacy Laws in Washington State

Since January 1, 2019, the state of Washington has a statute that recognizes contracts for gestational and genetic surrogacy arrangements. Washington's comprehensive surrogacy law protects the rights of the surrogate, intended parents, baby, and egg donor (if applicable).

Establishing parentage for surrogacy in Washington is a seamless process for everyone involved.

Become a Surrogate in Washingon

There is so much to learn about becoming a surrogate. We're here to help you navigate surrogacy in Washington, 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.

Washington is a surrogacy-friendly state, with many IVF clinics close by on the west coast. We work with many surrogates from Washington – from Seattle to Spokane, Bellingham to Olympia, and the cities and towns in between.

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.

What Is a Surrogate

Surrogates carry babies for those who are unable to have a baby on their own (they are often referred to as "Intended Parents" or "IPs").

Other terms for a surrogate include:
• Surrogate Mother
• Gestational Carrier
• Gestational Surrogate

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 kind, giving and selfless. They love being parents, and want others to be able to experience that same joy.

 5 Things To Know About Being a Surrogate

5 Things To Know About Being a Surrogate

There is a lot of information out there about becoming a surrogate, but here are 5 quick things for you to know before you begin!

  1. Surrogates do NOT use their own DNA (eggs) for the babies they carry
  2. Surrogates are paid throughout the entirety of their journey (not at the end) and start before pregnancy
  3. Surrogates have a say in with whom they match; all matches are mutual
  4. Surrogates DO need to give themselves injections as part of the IVF process; most surrogates say these needles are no big deal
  5. Surrogates will have to say goodbye to the baby; they look forward to "giving the baby back" to their intended parents; because they are not genetically related to the baby, surrogates do not feel an "attachment" to the babies they carry

Ready to learn more? Read on!

The Process for Surrogates in Washington

At Circle, our Washington 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.

Getting Started as a Surrogate

Wherever you are in your journey, we suggest completing our online surrogacy application. It takes only about 10 minutes to complete and there is no obligation to proceed if you aren’t ready.

 Surrogate Carrier Being Supported by Fellow Surrogate Carrier

Becoming a Surrogate Mother in Washington

Women who become surrogates are generous, adventurous, and kind. They are teachers, medical professionals, and stay-at-home moms. They are passionate about their families. They are spirited, caring, and selfless. Surrogate mothers are special people just like you.

Requirements for Becoming a Surrogate in Washington

You must meet the following requirements to qualify as a surrogate mother in Washington:

  • Have delivered a child of your own and are currently parenting at least one child.
  • Have had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, as documented by medical records.
  • Are age 21 to 44.
  • Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no higher than 33. Calculate my BMI.
  • Are a citizen, legal resident, or legal immigrant of the United States. If you are a legal resident or legal immigrant of the United States, you must provide documentation that is valid for at least 2 years.
  • Do 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

How Much Do Surrogates Get Paid in Washington State?

Circle Surrogacy works with many women from the state of Washington. And with our West Coast surrogacy agency office, we also work with many parents from the area.

Women who live in Washington and apply to become surrogate mothers, do so because they 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 is priceless.

As a surrogate mother in Washington, you have the opportunity to earn between $60,000 and $65,000 in payments and benefits. Surrogate mothers are paid a base fee of between $40,000 to $45,000, 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.

Calculate your surrogate pay in Washington with our surrogate compensation calculator.

Surrogate payments are made monthly, and surrogate mothers start earning compensation and benefits even before they are pregnant.

How Circle Supports Surrogates

Many of our staff members have been surrogates themselves, so Circle understands how to provide exceptional support for surrogates. Our surrogates receive top-notch prescreening, social work, legal, and journey 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).

Circle will connect you with other surrogate mothers through private social groups. You will have the opportunity to attend exclusive events with the Circle team.

We can also connect you with skilled, trustworthy experts. For example, when it’s time for you to review legal contracts, we’ll recommend an attorney in your area with whom we’ve worked previously and who has a strong working knowledge of assisted reproduction technology (ART) law. It’s just one more way we help make the entire surrogacy program as seamless as possible. To learn more, read our blog post about the 10 steps to becoming a surrogate.

The Circle Surrogate Promise

We created the Circle Surrogate Promise to show how much we truly care about our carriers and that we want each of them to have the most successful and rewarding journey possible.

Carriers have shared their thoughts and improvements with our social workers or during their exit interviews. We took all of those conversations and suggestions to heart and improved our offerings to our gestational carriers.

Guaranteed Pay, Security, and Support

The Circle Surrogate Promise is a program exclusive to Circle Surrogates; no other agency can offer the same level of security and support.

Circle Surrogacy promises:

1. Guaranteed compensation. Circle Surrogacy financially backs its intended parents, so a surrogate’s escrow account is always funded to ensure she is paid in full and on time, every time.

2. No medical bill liability. Circle Surrogacy takes on the liability of medical bills. We listened to our past surrogates and their frustrations with medical bills, and we’ve made big changes. While we can never stop having you receive medical bills (since you are the “patient”), our new Fixed Cost programs for intended parents allow us to protect both the surrogates and the intended parents and ensure all medical bills will be paid in a timely manner.

3. $5,000 compensation, even if you leave the program. If you are accepted into our surrogate program and you are medically cleared and matched with intended parents—but you don’t achieve a pregnancy—we will compensate you for your time, energy, and dedication thus far in your journey (up to $5,000 total).

4. Empowerment in birth choices. Not every gestational carrier has the same desires when it comes to the birth of their surrogate baby. At Circle, our surrogates have choices for her preferred birth options, such as doula care, a hospital birth, or using a birth center with a midwife.

5. Personalized, small agency feel with the resources of a large agency. The first person you speak with at Circle will likely be an experienced carrier who guides you through the process until you are matched with your intended parents. They’ll also personally introduce you to your dedicated social worker and journey support team, all of whom are in-house at Circle. You’ll always be supported by a Circle employee who knows all the details about you and your journey. (You’ll never have to worry about working with a third party who doesn’t even know your name!) Plus, with our expanded team, we are able to offer support groups, virtual events, one-on-one surrogate mentorship, and more.

 Intended Parents with their hands on their surrogate's belly

Finding a Perfect Intended Parent Match

As gestational carrier in Washington, the question of who you help is almost as important as your decision to help. After all, you and the prospective parents will embark on a monumental journey together. 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.

As a first step, your Surrogate Support Team will try to find the perfect intended parent(s) for you, based on personality fit and legal circumstances. You’ll get to review each other’s profiles, ask questions, and see if you feel comfortable with each other. There will also be an initial Skype or Zoom call, and possibly an in-person meeting. It’s important to make sure both you and the intended parent(s) feel completely comfortable with the match. Only then will the surrogacy agreement only move forward.

Circle works with a wide variety of intended parents including LGBTQ+ and heterosexual couples, domestic and international couples, singles, and more. We’re confident you’ll find the right match.

Getting Started

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.