California Surrogate Program Summary

Posted on April 16, 2023 by Candace O'Brien

As a California surrogate, you will receive excellent compensation and benefits during your journey and a lifetime of personal rewards knowing you gave the most meaningful gift ever to someone who is not able to have a child. You are truly an extraordinary woman and the financial rewards and benefits you receive should reflect that. We also invite surrogate candidates to request exceptions to any of the benefits outlined below. This is our guide. Surrogates set their requirements.

Compensation

Sign on Bonus*	$1,500
Base Compensation	$60,000 (1^st time surrogate) $70,000+ (experienced surrogate)
Monthly Miscellaneous Expense Fee (based on $300/month x 15 months)	$4,500
Start of Medications Fee	$1,000
Embryo Transfer Fee	$1,000
Maternity Clothing Allowance	$1,000

Benefits and Additional Compensation

Health Insurance	Provided at no expense to surrogate if needed
Life Insurance	$350,000 policy
Lost wages** for surrogate for all surrogacy-related appointments and travel and for doctor ordered bed rest	To be determined
Lost wages** for spouse/significant other up to 1 week during the process	To be determined
Lost wages** for companion for embryo transfer (up to 3 days if longer stay required by doctor)	To be determined
Housekeeping for doctor ordered bed rest	To be determined
Overnight dog care for required overnight travel	$60/day
Additional child care for surrogacy-related appointments	To be determined
Twin pregnancy for additional fetus	$10,000
Mock Cycle, Dropped Cycle, Ectopic Pregnancy, Invasive Procedures, Termination, Selective Reduction	$500-$5,000 (ask for details)

Surrogacy Related Travel

All travel expenses paid including mileage (.63/mile or as set by the IRS), hotels and airfare (arranged and paid by agency), additional child care, overnight dog boarding, uber/taxi, food allowance for travel > 8 hours.

You are never out of pocket for these expenses.

Legal Considerations

You receive your own expert attorney to represent you during for your contract with Intended Parents. Candace O’Brien, our Founder and Director is a lawyer. She will not represent the Intended Parents nor you (each of you will have your own attorney representing you) but Candace believes strongly that an agency must ensure that the requirements, expectations of the contract between a surrogate and her Intended Parents is fair and reasonable to both sides. You will find Candace is an invaluable asset to you during this process.

Financial Benefits

Candace is sensitive that surrogates should not have to go out of pocket for surrogacy related expenses. If you are traveling, for example, you will receive all estimated expenses and reimbursements BEFORE travel.

All monies due you in your agreement with Intended Parents is deposited in an insured escrow account for disbursement to you under the terms of your contract. Candace will work with you and the escrow company to ensure you receive timely payments.

Agency Support

You are embarking on a personal journey to help others have a child they cannot and you deserve personal support and service along the way….

Personal Support from a PRO- You will work with Candace O’Brien EVERY STEP OF THE WAY and not be handed from one person to another depending on the day, time, week. Candace will guide you through each step, coordinate appointments, arrange travel, ensure you are paid for surrogacy related expenses timely and ahead of time. Working with fertility clinics can be challenging at times. Candace is right there with you, making sure things get done, you understand the process and your questions are answered.

Candace is there for you 24/7!

Once you are pregnant, you will have monthly one on one counseling support with a licensed mental health professional.

Advocates for Surrogacy has a private Face Book support group that includes former and current surrogates.

Are you ready to find out if you qualify? Here is our 2 minute questionnaire to start: https://advocatesforsurrogacy.wufoo.com/forms/zd046001jkyy72/

Not quite ready but have questions?

Email: Candace@advocatesforsurrogacy.com

Call/text: 305.984.2154

Visit our website: https://www.advocatesforsurrogacy.com

*Sign on bonus is paid once a surrogate successfully completes her medical and psychological screening and enters into surrogacy agreement with Intended Parents and before she starts her medications.

**Lost wages based on documented wage information

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What People Are Saying

“Here’s the thing, I thought we could save money by handling the surrogacy ourselves, but the truth is that we tried and we lost time and almost got ourselves into a mess. Our fertility clinic recommended we try an agency and gave us a few recommendations. Advocates for Surrogacy was on the list. We called, we never looked back. Candace and the team were amazing from the time we began matching with a surrogate which was a totally different experience from when we were trying to do that ourselves to handling the contract, to the medical process all the way to the delivery of our beautiful daughter.”

— B and Z

“Candace is great. We must have met with her 3 or 4 times and she was always patient and provided all the answers we needed and when we finally signed up we felt comfortable and at ease. We had called several other agencies before finding Advocates for Surrogacy and the experience was very different. We received information and had a chance to speak with the director but it was obvious that we were expected to make a decision based on information and one meeting. We just didn’t think that was enough for the emotional and financial commitment that surrogacy requires.”

— Sheila T.

“Our surrogacy journey was not easy. We had some false starts with surrogates and then our surrogate had 2 miscarriages but through it all Candace was there to help us get through the rough patches and helped us to stay the course. Candace would always check in with me regularly after the miscarriages and I really appreciated that. Our surrogate also had the same experience with Candace continually checking in with her. All I can say is that surrogacy can have some bumps but having Candace beside us made all the difference. We never lost our faith and confidence and in the end our dreams of having a child came true times two!”

— M&M

“I’ve had 4 surrogate journeys. Candace is great to work with. She is caring and understanding. I had a wonderful experience with Advocates for Surrogacy and would go through them anytime. Thanks Candace for another unforgettable journey.”

— P.D.

“Advocates for Surrogacy was our lifesaver. My cousin agreed to be our surrogate but we did not have the finances for IVF after several failed attempts on our own. I started to look at international programs and stumbled upon Advocates for Surrogacy’s Guatemala IVF Program. It was our answer. Even with the travel costs, it was a major savings. The doctors at the clinic were great and really took time to explain everything. Candace’s team in Guatemala were great. We were picked up at the airport, taken to the clinic and never felt we were on our own.”

— Tara K.

“I just completed my 5th surrogacy journey and my first with Advocates for Surrogacy. I was with another agency for 1st and 3rd journeys and did 2nd and 4th independently. My 1st and 3rd were so so and not much support from agency. 2nd independent was good but I had some problems with bills getting paid on time. My 2nd independent journey was a total mess so I definitely don’t recommend going independent even with experience. I can honestly say that working with Candace was great. She went to bat for me when I needed it and was always there.”

— C.T.