Considering surrogacy or egg donation to grow your family? You're not alone — and you probably have questions. Below, we answer the most common questions from intended parents about the surrogacy process, costs, legal rights, and more — updated for 2026.
Your first step is to partner with a surrogacy agency that will guide you through the entire process. At New Grace Fertility, it starts with a free consultation where we learn about your goals, timeline, and budget. Once you're ready to move forward, you'll sign an agency agreement and we'll begin matching you with a pre-screened gestational surrogate — typically within 2–4 months.
From there, we coordinate every step: legal contracts, IVF clinic scheduling, medical screenings, and pregnancy support — all the way through delivery and establishing your legal parental rights.
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate (gestational carrier) has no genetic connection to the baby. An embryo is created using the intended parents' or donors' egg and sperm via IVF, then transferred to the surrogate's uterus. This is the standard practice in California and the most legally secure option.
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own eggs, meaning she has a genetic link to the child — which creates significant legal and emotional complexities. New Grace Fertility exclusively facilitates gestational surrogacy to protect all parties and ensure the clearest legal outcome for intended parents.
A typical surrogacy process in California takes 12–18 months from your first consultation to bringing your baby home. Here's a general timeline:
Timelines can vary based on surrogate availability, IVF cycles, and individual medical factors. We keep you informed at every milestone.
New Grace Fertility welcomes all intended parents regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or nationality. Our clients include:
California law protects the parental rights of all intended parents using gestational surrogacy, making it one of the most inclusive legal environments in the world.
The total surrogacy cost in California typically ranges from $150,000–$200,000. This includes surrogate compensation & expenses ($72,100+), agency fees, legal costs, screening, and insurance. If you also need an egg donor, add approximately $30,000–$60,000 depending on the donor's profile.
New Grace Fertility is committed to full financial transparency — we provide an itemized cost breakdown during your free consultation, so there are never hidden fees or surprises. See our complete 2026 Surrogacy Cost Guide →
Your surrogate's insurance will typically cover prenatal care and delivery costs. She may already have a plan in place, or our team will help you secure the best insurance option for her. However, most standard health insurance plans do not cover surrogacy-specific expenses such as agency fees, legal costs, or surrogate compensation.
During your consultation, we review all insurance options and help you understand exactly what is and isn't covered — so you can plan your budget with complete clarity.
Yes. New Grace Fertility partners with reputable fertility financing providers to help make your surrogacy journey more accessible. Flexible payment plan options are available, and we can discuss the details during your initial consultation.
Many intended parents also explore fertility loans, home equity lines of credit, or employer-sponsored fertility benefits. We're happy to walk you through all available options so you can choose what works best for your family.
Several factors influence the final surrogacy cost:
New Grace Fertility customizes your plan and cost estimate to match your specific situation — no one-size-fits-all pricing.
All surrogates in our program undergo comprehensive screening before being presented to intended parents:
Only candidates who pass all evaluations are accepted into our program — ensuring the highest standards of safety and reliability for intended parents.
At New Grace Fertility, we match intended parents with gestational carriers based on shared values, personality compatibility, communication preferences, and medical criteria. Our average match time is just 2–4 months.
Here's how it works: after your consultation, we present you with profiles of pre-screened surrogates who meet your criteria. You review their medical history, personal background, and preferences. Once there's mutual interest, we arrange a video call or in-person meeting. If both parties feel comfortable, we move forward with legal contracts and medical clearance.
Absolutely. Matching is a mutual decision — you will review surrogate profiles and have the opportunity to meet your prospective carrier before committing. We believe a strong relationship between intended parents and their surrogate leads to the best experience for everyone involved.
If a match doesn't feel right for any reason, we'll continue searching until we find the perfect fit. New Grace Fertility also offers a rematch guarantee for your peace of mind.
Surrogate mother requirements at New Grace Fertility include:
These requirements exist to protect both the surrogate and the intended parents, ensuring a safe and successful journey. Learn about becoming a surrogate →
Surrogacy laws vary significantly by state. California is widely regarded as the most surrogacy-friendly state in the U.S., with established legal frameworks that fully protect intended parents' rights. Other surrogacy-friendly states include Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, and Connecticut.
Some states have restrictions or outright bans on surrogacy. New Grace Fertility only works with surrogates in states where legal protections for intended parents are well-established — ensuring your parental rights are secure from the start. Read our California Surrogacy Laws guide →
No. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate cannot legally keep the baby — and almost certainly doesn't want to. All of our surrogates undergo psychological screening to ensure they are emotionally prepared to complete the process and will not experience distress by doing so.
Legally, the surrogate signs a contract before the embryo transfer relinquishing any claim to the child. In surrogacy-friendly states like California, a pre-birth order establishes your legal parentage before the baby is even born — providing the strongest possible protection.
Legal parental rights for intended parents are established through one of the following mechanisms:
New Grace Fertility works with experienced reproductive attorneys who specialize in surrogacy law to ensure your rights are fully protected regardless of your family structure.
International intended parents enjoy the same legal protections as U.S.-based parents under California law. The U.S. does not require citizenship or residency for intended parents to pursue surrogacy. Pre-birth orders are granted regardless of nationality, marital status, or sexual orientation.
New Grace Fertility also assists with international logistics including birth certificate procurement, passport applications, and coordination with immigration attorneys — ensuring a smooth process from pregnancy to bringing your baby home. Learn more about international surrogacy →
Yes — and it's one of our core strengths. New Grace Fertility is the #1 Asian Egg Bank in the U.S., maintaining the largest database of Asian egg donors in the country. You can filter by ethnicity, physical traits, education level, and personal values.
Many families specifically choose New Grace for this reason — because finding an ethnically matched donor is essential for preserving family heritage and ensuring the best possible genetic match. Browse our egg donor database →
When using an egg donor with surrogacy, the process follows these key steps:
New Grace Fertility coordinates every step between the egg donor, IVF clinic, and surrogate — ensuring a seamless, stress-free experience. Read our IVF with Donor Eggs guide →
IVF with donor eggs generally has higher success rates than IVF using the intended mother's own eggs, especially for women over 35. According to the CDC, the live birth rate per embryo transfer using fresh donor eggs is approximately 55–65% for women of all ages. At New Grace Fertility, our carefully screened donors and coordinated process contribute to high success rates of 93%, with many intended parents achieving healthy pregnancies on their first transfer.
Success rates depend on factors like egg quality, the IVF clinic's expertise, and embryo health. New Grace Fertility partners with top-tier IVF clinics in Los Angeles, San Diego, and beyond to maximize your chances of a successful pregnancy.
Egg donor costs typically range from $20,000–$50,000+, depending on the donor's profile, experience level, and compensation requirements. This includes the donor's compensation, agency fees, medical screening, legal contracts, and insurance.
For intended parents who also need a surrogate, the combined cost of egg donation and surrogacy typically falls in the $180,000–$250,000+ range. New Grace Fertility provides a detailed, transparent cost breakdown so you know exactly what to expect.
Absolutely. The U.S. offers one of the most internationally accessible surrogacy legal environments in the world. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to pursue surrogacy — and pre-birth orders are granted regardless of nationality or marital status.
New Grace Fertility specializes in serving international intended parents, particularly from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and other Asian countries. We provide bilingual support, assist with travel logistics, and coordinate document preparation for international birth certificates and passports. Read our International Surrogacy Guide →
Yes, absolutely. New Grace Fertility welcomes all family structures — including gay couples, same-sex couples, and single LGBTQ+ intended parents. California law fully protects the parental rights of LGBTQ+ intended parents using surrogacy, and we have extensive experience guiding same-sex couples through the process.
For gay male couples, we coordinate the selection of an egg donor and gestational surrogate. For lesbian couples, options include reciprocal IVF (one partner's egg, the other carries), IUI, or IVF with donor sperm. Explore our LGBTQIA+ Parents guide →
Yes. New Grace Fertility provides multilingual support in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and other Asian languages. Every international intended parent is assigned a dedicated case coordinator who speaks your native language — expertly guiding you through every step of the matching, legal, medical, and emotional milestones.
We understand that navigating a surrogacy journey in a foreign country can feel overwhelming. Our bilingual team ensures nothing gets lost in translation — from your first consultation to bringing your baby home.
Here's what sets New Grace Fertility apart as a surrogacy agency in California:
We are committed to providing the best possible experience for every intended parent — and we offer a free initial consultation so you can decide if we're the right fit for your family. Schedule your free consultation →
Our team is here to help. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation — available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
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