The Surrogacy Process for Intended Parents
New York Surrogacy Center will be there every step of the way to guide you through the surrogacy process. The process typically consists of the following stages:
You can reach out via our website, phone, or email and we will set up a time to talk by phone or Zoom about the process and answer any questions you have about the agency or about surrogacy, in general. If you are interested in moving forward, we will send you our application to complete and return to us. If necessary, we will help you identify resources for egg, sperm, and/or embryo donation. Once you decide to move forward with NYSC and sign your Service Agreement, you will move on to the matching phase.
In your application, you will provide us with information about your ideal surrogate. Based on that information, we will provide you with profiles of surrogates to choose from. We carefully prescreen all surrogates to make sure they are eligible before the matching phase. Once you select a surrogate, we will have her medical records reviewed by your fertility clinic and then we will arrange a pre-match meeting between you and your surrogate via Zoom. If both you and the surrogate agree it’s a good match, we will officially match you and you will move on to the screening process.
The next step will be for the surrogate to undergo a medical screening pursuant to the requirements of your fertility center. You will also need to be medically screened if you are contributing gametes (i.e., sperm or eggs). You and the surrogate will also undergo a psychological screening to make sure you all understand the process of surrogacy and the potential emotional impacts of surrogacy. Once medical and psychological clearances are obtained, you will be ready to move on to the contract phase.
We will provide referrals to competent law firms to represent you and the surrogate in the negotiation and drafting of a Surrogacy Agreement, which will set forth the terms of your surrogacy arrangement. It will include information about compensation, insurance and the surrogate’s conduct during the pregnancy. Once the Surrogacy Agreement is signed and all legal requirements met, we will send a legal clearance letter to the fertility center and you will be ready to schedule the embryo transfer.
The fertility center will schedule the embryo transfer with you and your surrogate. If your surrogate needs travel arranged for the embryo transfer, the agency will take care of those arrangements. If all goes well, your surrogate will become pregnant and the agency will check in with her after each medical appointment and provide you with an update. We will continue to provide emotional support and coordinate any needed services for you and your surrogate throughout the pregnancy. Once your surrogate reaches the second trimester of her pregnancy, you will be ready to have your attorney file your parentage proceeding.
Your attorney will draft a petition for you to sign and a consent for your surrogate to sign. The petition and consent will be filed with the Court and a pre-birth order will be issued declaring you to be the parents of your baby and directing the Department of Health to list you as the parents on your baby’s birth certificate. In some states this process may vary and we will discuss those variations with you at the time you are considering the profile of a surrogate from such a state.
We will help coordinate your birth plan and connect with the hospital in advance to make sure things go smoothly when you’re there. Your surrogate will let you know when labor begins, and you will be present for the delivery of your baby. You will then be able to care for and bond with your baby at the hospital immediately upon birth. Your baby will be discharged to your care and you will receive your baby’s birth certificate listing you as the baby’s parents. After birth, your surrogate will pump breast milk for your baby if agreed upon by you and your surrogate.
Once all expenses contemplated by the Surrogacy Agreement have been paid, you will be refunded any excess funds in your escrow account and your surrogacy journey will be complete.
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Servicios de traducción e interpretación en español disponibles para clientes.
Spanish translation and interpreter services available for clients.