If you aren’t ready to fill out an intended parent application on our database, you can begin by contacting our team for a no-obligation consultation. We will walk you through the surrogacy process, answer your initial questions, and provide insight to any concerns.
Complete an intended parent application on our online platform. During the intake process, we’ll gather important information such as your goals, preferences and where you are along your pathway to parenthood, and begin building a personalized plan for your journey.
If you haven’t already created embryos, this is the stage to select and work with your fertility clinic to complete any necessary fertility testing and coordinate egg and/or sperm collection or selecting a gamete donor. PGT (pre-implantation genetic testing) of the embryos and embryo freezing are completed during this step as well.
We’ll provide you with personalized education and guidance on every aspect of your surrogacy journey including directing you to referral lists for the medical, legal, escrow management and mental health providers and professionals you will work with throughout. It is during this stage that you will select your legal representation and complete your counseling session. We want to ensure that you feel empowered and informed, so we will be sure that you are up to date with any available resources and understand the expectations of the journey.
Using your preferences and values as a guide, we will identify a surrogate whose goals and communication style align with yours and present you with her profile. Once a potential match is indicated, we will coordinate an introductory meeting via video or in-person if possible, and if both parties feel comfortable moving forward, a match is confirmed. You, your surrogate, and your fertility clinic will receive a match letter with us connecting you with your surrogate for the next steps of the journey.
Following the match, both you, your surrogate, and your partners (if applicable) will participate in a joint counseling session with a mental health professional that specialized in third-party reproduction. Your mental health professional will also be there to provide ongoing counseling and support throughout the journey to ensure emotional readiness and wellbeing for all involved.
Your surrogate will complete a comprehensive medical screening at your fertility clinic. If she does not live locally to your clinic, travel will be arranged ahead of time. This includes a physical exam, lab testing, and uterine evaluation to ensure she is physically prepared to the embryo transfer procedure and to carry a pregnancy safely. Depending on the clinic, your surrogate may also need to obtain an OB clearance letter from her OB/GYN and complete a mock embryo transfer cycle if she is a first-time surrogate.
To ensure transparency and financial security for all parties involved, an escrow agency will be engaged once your surrogacy agreement is finalized, to manage the disbursement of funds throughout your journey. You will be guided through the process of funding the account, which typically includes the surrogate’s compensation, allowances, medical expenses, and other anticipated costs. Your dedicated case manager and legal team will coordinate with the escrow provider to ensure everything is clearly documented and compliant with industry best practices.
Once medical clearance is received, each party works with separate legal counsel to draft and finalize the surrogacy contract and agreement. This document outlines the roles, responsibilities, financial considerations and parental rights. Once the contract has been signed by all parties, your lawyer will draft a legal clearance letter and provide it to us to confirm that the agreement has been finalized and the match can officially proceed.
With legal clearance in place, your surrogate will begin medications to prepare for the embryo transfer. This cycle will be coordinated and overseen by the team at your fertility clinic, and we will be closely monitoring it the whole time, providing support to both you and your surrogate. The embryo(s) are then transferred at your fertility clinic. Two weeks later, a pregnancy test is performed to confirm the outcome.
Once your surrogate reaches ten weeks of pregnancy, she stops all fertility medications, and graduates from your fertility clinic to continue her care at her OB/GYN. Throughout the pregnancy, our team provides continued support to all parties. We facilitate regular check-ins, offer guidance, and help maintain healthy, open communication between everyone involved.
As the due date approaches, we help coordinate hospital planning to ensure a smooth delivery experience. We assist with logistics and support you in preparing to welcome your baby with confidence.
Either prior to the birth of your baby, or shortly afterwards, depending on your state’s regulations, either a pre or post birth order is completed to ensure parental rights are properly put into place in accordance with state laws by your attorney. Our team continues to support both families through the postbirth transition.
Your connection to Surrogacy Pathway doesn’t end at birth. Whether you choose to stay in touch with your surrogate or want to engage with our family community, we’re here for continued emotional support, resources, and guidance-now and into the future.
Whether you’re just starting to explore surrogacy or ready to take the first step, we’re here to help.
2025 Jewish Family and Children’s Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN: 94-1156528. All donations are tax deductible.
