Most surrogacy providers will collect a Registration or Retainer fee when you sign your retainer agreement and most will work with you as deemed necessary to ensure that your dreams of becoming a parent are grasped. Once you are legally bonded with a Surrogate, contact information will be provided so you can communicate with each other (if desired).
The Intended Parents and Surrogate Mother will be coordinated with attorneys and doctors to continue the process. The surrogacy provider will retain their base fee and the Surrogates initial fee at this time. The agency will begin to amass the deposits for your escrow during the course of your Surrogacy Journey once the legal agreement has been signed.
What is Involved in the Surrogacy Payment Arrangement?
Intended Parents deposit the fees (fees may include medical screening, IVF meds, Egg Donor fees, embryo transfer, lost wages, child care, maternity allowance, insurance coverage, C-section fee, multiples fee, clinical or counseling) into the escrow with a bonded and protected escrow agency.
These funds are then divided and dispersed monthly to the Surrogate Mother throughout the pregnancy according to your legal contract.
In general, throughout the pregnancy fees are divided and paid to the Surrogate Mother in four main installments. The first installment is made before IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempts begin. After a positive pregnancy formation is created, the Surrogate Mother receives a second installment of the promised contract payment.
The residual balance is paid in monthly installments during the course of the pregnancy, with the final percentage being paid upon birth of the child.
For a detailed look at the installment process, see our Surrogacy Payment Process Example.