The Requirements For Surrogacy: An Explainer

If you are interested in becoming a surrogate, you know that there is a fairly extensive list of surrogacy requirements if you want to become a surrogate in California, Utah, Pennsylvania, or any other state where surrogacy is prevalent. While this list may seem absolutely too strict, every requirement has a reason for why it exists.

Let’s break them down:

You Must Be Between 21 and 37 Years Old

The age requirement was put into place because these are the ages when women are healthy enough to carry a pregnancy. It starts at 21 because a woman needs to have carried a successful pregnancy already and be able to make her own legal decisions. The “sweet spot” for ages, so to speak is the late twenties and early thirties, though women can be up to 37 years old when they start the process.

You Need To Be A US Citizen or Green Card Holder

This one is simple: in order to be legally paid for your surrogacy services, you need to be a legal citizen or a Green Cardholder. It also helps with tracking your medical history and proving that you fit all the rest of the requirements on this list.

You Cannot Smoke, Do Drugs, Or Drink Alcohol

It should be fairly obvious why you cannot be a smoker or drinker while you are pregnant – it can negatively impact your own health as well as the health of your baby. You will be tested throughout the time you carry the baby.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you cannot be a surrogate if you have ever had a glass of wine. It simply means that you need to have the ability to restrain from drinking for the length of your pregnancy.

You Need To Have Given Birth Already – Without Complication

One thing that all surrogacy agencies need to see is that you can carry a healthy pregnancy and give birth to that baby without any complications. If you have had complications, you had a bad pregnancy, or you needed to have a C-section, you may not be eligible to be a surrogate.

You Should Have Custody Of Your Child

Of course, you should have custody of the child that you gave birth to – this shows that you are responsible and that you can care for a child. Remember that you are going to be taking care of the baby while it is in your stomach, so you want to show that you are able to do so.

You Need To Have Reliable Transportation

When you are a surrogate, you will need to go to medical appointments, visits with the agency, and more. This means that you need to have access to reliable transportation. Depending on where you live, it may mean that you can use public transportation. However, for most people, it means that you have a driver’s license and access to a car.

You Receive No Government Assistance

Surrogates cannot be on certain forms of government assistance for many surrogacy agencies. This is likely because of health insurance, living situations, and the fact that people who do not have money may lie to become surrogates in order to get that money.

You Need To Be Physically Healthy

While your body mass index (BMI) is not always an accurate representation of your health, most surrogacy agencies have a BMI cutoff of 30. This is because women who are significantly overweight are more likely to have certain problems during their pregnancies, up to the point where pregnancy may not be safe for them. 

requirements for surrogacy

When you decide to become a surrogate, there are many different requirements to do it – these requirements have been put in place to protect you, the baby, and Intended Parents. Some surrogacy agencies will give you tools to get where you need to be within these requirements, especially if you are a little bit overweight or you do not have reliable transportation.

The sooner you can start your journey to meeting surrogate requirements, the better you will be.

How Much Do Surrogates Make In Utah

If you are interested in becoming a surrogate, your first question may be how much do surrogates make in Utah – after all, you are delivering a powerful gift and you deserve to be compensated for it. As a gestational carrier (the proper term for surrogates), you should know that your base rate is actually something that you can negotiate before you become one. Remember your worth but also remember that many intended parents have worked a long time to get where they are – if you raise your rates too high, it is likely that you won’t be matched with an intended parent. 

Many surrogates do this work because they do want to help someone else build their family when they cannot do it on their own. Even so, it is so inspirational to see surrogates use their payment to build new lives for themselves – we’ve seen surrogates pay off college loans, put a down-payment on a new home, buy cars, fund their children’s college educations, start a side business, and so much more. It is truly a great way to make money that will change your life.

How Do Surrogates Get Paid In Utah?

Generally, you will get your compensation in monthly installments once you have officially gotten pregnant. You will get paid based on your ability to carry a baby, so you will not get paid until you have successfully implanted an embryo. Surrogate rates start at about $30,000 per baby and can go up from there. Surrogates who carry multiple pregnancies get paid more as do those who have been surrogates before with the same agency.

How Much Does A Surrogate Make?

When we say that the base pay for a surrogate is around $30,000 to start, people often tune out because they think that the amount is too low – and it is. That is because you also get supplemental income when you are a surrogate. You get additional payments depending on the conditions of your contract. For example, you will get a bonus for signing a contract, money for going through medical screening and embryo transfers, travel expenses, money for clothing, a monthly expense account, lost wage coverage, housekeeping, pampering sessions, and more. You will even get more compensation if you provide breast milk, need to undergo extra medical procedures, and need a C-section.

Other things covered? Counseling sessions, hotel stays, legal fees, life insurance benefits, all medical expenses except those covered by insurance, and even extra gifts from in the intended parents, in many cases.

Will I Have To Pay Anything To Become A Surrogate?

Becoming a surrogate is not one of those “pay money to make money” schemes that so many people fall victim to. Now, there are some things that will cost money. For example, if you need to get into better shape to actually be eligible to be a surrogate, you will have to cover the costs associated with that. You may also have to pay travel and medical expenses before you sign a contract. You will not have to pay anything related to the pregnancy or surrogacy process once you have been matched with intended parents. 

How Do I Get Paid To Be A Surrogate In Utah?

To get paid to be a surrogate in Utah, you need to go through a surrogacy agency to ensure that everything is on the up and up. You need to be open and honest with your caseworker about what you expect to receive and how you expect to receive it – but you also have to be able to negotiate with that person. Then, your caseworker can search for the intended parents that fit your needs.

Once you have signed a contract, the terms of your agreement are legally binding. Make sure that you read over the contract and understand every part of it. The intended parents then fund a trust account to cover your anticipated fees and expense reimbursements. 

Overall, there are so many variables in place that can (and will) impact your overall surrogate compensation in Utah, making it difficult to really answer the question of how much do surrogates make in Utah. The best way to find out for yourself is to apply to be a surrogate and then speak with a caseworker about your expectations for pay – you are not required to continue if you do not get the answer that you want.

O is for Outpost

Ah the old frontier outpost. Like the Motel 6 of a high fantasy universe. This collection of buildings marks the final taste of civilization on the edge of the great unknown. Rest up, grab an ale and hire the most trustworthy guards you can find before heading through the gate.

O is also for Otis. If you haven’t had a chance, go check out fellow drawrer, Kyle Henderson’s A to Z offerings.

Get a printable version here.