The Surrogacy Journey in California

Your Guide to Finding or Becoming a Surrogate in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Throughout California

At GSHC, our expert team has years of experience guiding both surrogates and intended parents throughout California. Whether you’re an intended parent hoping to find a surrogate who can help you realize your dreams of parenthood or you’re interested in becoming a surrogate yourself, we can help every step of the way — from the initial matching process to legal processes, and everything in between.

Surrogacy in Regional California

Surrogacy in Los Angeles
Surrogacy in San Francisco
Surrogacy in San Diego
Surrogacy in Orange County

Who Uses a Surrogate?

People of all backgrounds work with surrogates for many different reasons to help grow their families. Some of these people may include:

  • Individuals
  • Heterosexual couples struggling with infertility
  • Same-sex/LGBTQ+ couples
  • People with medical conditions that make pregnancy or delivery risky
  • People who have a damaged or removed uterus

Whether you’re located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Orange County, or any other part of California, the caring team GSHC will work closely with you to find a surrogate who aligns with your values, preferences, and personality.

Become a Surrogate in California

Surrogacy can be deeply enriching and life-changing, with most surrogates coming away from the experience with a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude, not to mention generous monetary compensation. At GSHC, we work closely with all surrogates through every stage of this unique journey to ensure they feel supported and secure. Whether you’re located in Orange County, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, or anywhere else throughout California, we have the resources and knowledge you need to thrive.

Surrogate Compensation in California: How Much Are Surrogates Paid?

A lot of time, energy, and effort goes into surrogacy, and at GSHC, we pride ourselves on offering competitive compensation that accurately reflects this deep physical and emotional commitment.

Initial base pay for surrogates in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco, and other areas in California typically ranges from $40,000 to $80,000, with various factors affecting overall payment, including prior surrogacy and pregnancy experience, special requests in the surrogacy contract, unexpected medical needs, and more. Base pay will be provided in 10 equal monthly installments.

Additional payments will also be made throughout the surrogacy journey for various expenditures and necessities, including:

  • Monthly allowances to cover extra expenses
  • Surrogacy-related mileage and travel
  • $250,000 life insurance policy
  • Insurance premiums
  • Prescription copays
  • Maternity clothing
  • Housekeeping
  • Childcare, if applicable
  • Lost wages, if applicable
  • Milestone payments for major moments in pregnancy
  • Special requirements outlined in the contract

Learn More About Surrogate Compensation

Surrogate Requirements in California

Surrogacy requirements will vary depending on state law and the specific agency one works with. Though the particular criteria may vary slightly from agency to agency, these requirements are always designed to protect the health and well-being of the surrogate as well as the baby.

Some of GSHC’s key requirements include:

  • Age 21–38
  • Have given birth to at least one child of your own
  • No smoking or drug use
  • No more than three previous C-sections
  • No more than five previous pregnancies
  • Financially stable, no government assistance
  • Stable living environment
  • Good overall health, BMI of 31 or less

Surrogacy can be a life-changing experience, and GSHC can guide you every step of the way. If you’re ready to learn more, explore our full list of requirements, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the team with any questions you may have.

Learn More About Surrogate Requirements

Become a Surrogate in California

Ready to take the first step? GSHC Surrogacy Agency works with surrogates from San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and everywhere else in California. Start your surrogacy journey today.

Apply

Find a Surrogate in California

GSHC Surrogacy Agency is proud to work with intended parents throughout California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond. We’ll help you find the right surrogate for your specific preferences and needs, and will work closely with you throughout every stage of the surrogacy journey — from the initial matching process to legal considerations and financial matters.

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in California?

Surrogacy costs in Orange County, San Diego, and other areas of California can vary widely depending on the specifics of the surrogacy contract, the surrogate’s location and prior experiences, and any unexpected or special medical needs. In most cases, at least $144,000 is a good estimate to start with. This takes into account:

  • Base compensation
  • Monthly allowances
  • Pregnancy milestone payments
  • Maternity wear
  • Travel and transportation
  • Screening fees
  • Insurance costs
  • Medical expenses
  • Prescription reimbursement
  • Childcare and housekeeping
  • Legal fees
  • Agency fee

GSHC understands the importance of understanding expected costs upfront, and will work with you to create a detailed outline of all anticipated costs, though it’s important to be aware of the fact that unexpected circumstances — such as a surrogate's medical needs — can sometimes come into play.

Learn More About Surrogacy Costs

How to Find a Surrogate in California

If you’re an intended parent in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and elsewhere in California, the team at GSHC can help you find a surrogate who meets your specific preferences and needs. To find the right match, intended parents will fill out a short profile so we can get to know you better and understand your expectations for a surrogate. All surrogate candidates will also complete detailed profiles, outlining their qualifications and experience, general background, and reasons for pursuing surrogacy.

We’ll compare profiles to assess values and expectations, then identify surrogacy candidates who may be a good match. Both parties will review the other’s profiles, and if they think it could be a good fit, GSHC will set up a meeting. If everyone comes away from the meeting feeling comfortable and confident with the arrangement, the surrogacy journey can commence, starting with medical screenings for the surrogacy, followed by legal processes.

Using an Egg Donor and Surrogate in California

Some intended parents in Orange County, San Diego, and other areas of California also use an egg donor during their journey to parenthood. Egg donor laws will differ from state to state, and these laws may continually evolve as egg donation is a relatively new process. In California, laws are in place to protect the intended parents having a child through assisted reproduction as well as the donor, but it’s still critical to work with an attorney specializing in egg donation and surrogacy. With proper legal counsel, intended parents can be assured that parentage will be established according to the specifics of their particular situation.

Looking for an egg donor to help you on your path to parenthood? Register for access to our egg donor database.

LGBTQ+ Surrogacy in California

California is a very surrogacy-friendly state for LGBTQ+ people. Whether you’re located in San Francisco, Orange County, or elsewhere throughout California, same-sex and LGBTQ+ intended parents are protected by law, allowing you to legally pursue surrogacy regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity. At GSHC, we work with many LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, and are proud to offer inclusive services to clients of all backgrounds.

Find a Surrogate in California

Ready to take the first step toward becoming a parent? GSHC Surrogacy Agency works with surrogates from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and everywhere else in California. Start your surrogacy journey in California today.

Find a Surrogate

Surrogacy Laws in California

  • Surrogacy is legally recognized in California, as established by the California Supreme Court. In 2013, a gestational surrogacy statute went into effect, explicitly legalizing and recognizing surrogacy throughout the state. California allows both gestational surrogacy, in which the surrogate has no genetic relation to the child, as well as traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate uses her own egg(s) and therefore is genetically related to the child.

  • Under California law, gestational surrogates must meet a few key requirements, including:

    • Being at least 18 years old
    • Having previously given birth to at least one child
    • Having independent legal counsel
    • Undergoing psychological evaluations to ensure readiness for surrogacy

    In addition to the basic criteria outlined by the state, surrogacy agencies will maintain their own requirements as well. As GSHC, we have stringent requirements in place to ensure the health and safety of both the surrogate and the baby:

    • Age 21–38
    • Have given birth to at least one child of your own
    • Good physical health, BMI of 31 or less
    • No smoking or drug use
    • Stable housing and living environment
    • Financial stability, no government assistance
    • No more than three previous C-sections
    • No more than five previous pregnancies
    • U.S. citizen, no felonies

  • California law also maintains a couple of basic requirements for intended parents working with gestational surrogates, including:

    Being at least 18 years old
    Having independent legal counsel

    Unlike some states, California does not require that intended parents have a medical need (such as infertility) to pursue surrogacy. Intended parents also do not have to be married, and do not need a genetic connection to the embryo.

  • Under California law, unmarried couples and single intended parents alike can pursue surrogacy, whether heterosexual or same-sex/LGBTQ+. This makes California one of the most inclusive, surrogacy-friendly states in the United States.

  • Traditional surrogacy — in which the surrogate doubles as the egg donor and is therefore genetically related to the baby — is legally allowed in California, per California Family Law Sections 7960-7962. Because this type of surrogacy tends to be much more emotionally and legally complicated, it is much less common than gestational surrogacy and is usually not recommended. At GSHC, we specialize in gestational surrogacy only.

    Establishing parentage in cases of traditional surrogacy tends to be much more complex than in cases of gestational surrogacy. In some cases, the traditional surrogate may be the legal mother, and parentage for at least one of the intended parents may need to be established via adoption; this may be the case regardless of what is specified in the surrogacy contract.

  • Gestational carrier agreements are legal contracts signed by both intended parents and the gestational carrier (as well as her spouse/partner, if applicable) outlining the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties for the surrogacy relationship. To be legally binding in California, this contract must:

    Confirm the date of the agreement
    Identify the intended parents
    Confirm whether eggs, sperm, and/or embryo were donated
    Detail how the intended parents will cover the medical costs of the surrogate and the newborn
    Outline all requirements for all involved parties

    While each gestational carrier agreement is unique, most contracts will also address which hospital will be used for delivery, the extent or nature of contact between the parties afterward, and other important considerations. These agreements are essential to ensuring a smooth, straightforward process in which all parties are clearly informed from the beginning and no surprises arise along the way.

  • California is an especially surrogacy-friendly state, making the process of establishing parentage relatively simple. Once the gestational carrier agreement is signed, the intended parents petition a county court to issue a pre-birth order establishing a parent-child relationship between the intended parents and the eventual newborn. These orders then make it easy for the hospital to issue the intended parents a birth certificate, typically within five to 10 days.

  • California Assembly Bill 1217, passed in 2012, requires intended parents and surrogates to have separate, independent legal representation, meaning they cannot use the same attorney. The intended parents pay for the surrogate’s legal costs in addition to their own.

  • All intended parents in California may legally pursue surrogacy, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. This is a popular option for lesbian couples who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy to term, as well as for gay men who wish to be biologically connected to their child, but surrogacy is available to all LGBTQ+ couples. The main difference for same-sex couples pursuing surrogacy is deciding which partner, if any, will be genetically connected to the child. LGBTQ+ intended parents can obtain pre-birth orders in court in California just as heterosexual couples do.

The GSHC Surrogacy Process in California
GC Step 1. Application & Screening
Californians considering becoming surrogates submit applications to GSHC. All candidates will undergo background checks, financial stability screenings, as well as medical and physical health evaluations.
IP Step 1. Initial Consultation
Intended parents in California meet with a GSHC staff member to better understand the surrogacy process, consider their options and financial factors, and ask any questions they may have.
GC Step 2. Profile Creation
After they’ve completed our screening process, surrogates can create profiles to be stored in our database, including details about their background, specific preferences, and why they want to become a surrogate.
IP Step 2. Seeking a Surrogate
Intended parents speak with our team about their desired traits and values in a surrogate before looking through our vast database of prospective profiles of candidates.
Step 3. Making a Match
GSHC will help intended parents find the surrogate who best matches their unique preferences and criteria. If both parties agree to move forward, the partnership truly begins, and we’re on our way to bringing a new child into the world.
Step 4. Legal Contracts
Intended parents and surrogates each work with their own fertility lawyers to draw up a gestational carrier agreement, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved and sets expectations for the duration of the process. These contracts help establish parenthood for the intended parents, specify which hospital will be used for delivery, and outline how the intended parents will pay for the surrogate’s and the newborn’s health care.
Step. 5 Medical Procedures
Once contracts are signed, the surrogate will undergo medical evaluations, including blood tests, to ensure no communicable diseases or other genetic conditions are passed on. Once cleared, she begins hormone treatments to prepare her body to receive the embryo. Intended parents, meanwhile, undergo fertility treatments to create the embryos – in some cases using donated eggs and/or sperm – which are then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus. Two weeks later, a blood test confirms the surrogate is pregnant.
Step 6. Prenatal Care
Surrogates will take fertility medications for the first two months of the pregnancy and meet with fertility specialists for the first 10 weeks, after which she will visit with her chosen OB/GYN for the remainder of the pregnancy. These visits will help monitor the progress of the pregnancy, with various medical screenings, blood tests, and ultrasounds confirming the health of the baby and surrogate alike.
Step 7. Birth
Finally, the surrogate will go into labor, be brought to the hospital, and prepare for delivery. Typically, in addition to the medical professionals, the intended parents accompany the surrogate to the hospital and are present for labor and delivery. The gestational carrier agreements signed at the beginning of the process establish these specific conditions, including things such as vaginal delivery versus C-section, and the nature of contact afterward. The surrogate is usually given a little time to spend with the baby before its new parents take it home.
Step 8. Parental Rights & Post-Delivery Support
In California, parental rights are established with pre-birth orders, filed upon completion of a valid gestational carrier agreement. County judges issue these orders, making it easy for the hospital to provide a birth certificate, typically within five to 10 days.

Intended parents continue to provide support for the surrogate as she recovers from delivery.
Step 9. An Exciting New Chapter
As the surrogacy journey concludes, the new parents’ new journey begins. GSHC is honored and proud to have played a part in helping so many individuals and couples in California build or grow their families through surrogacy.

Depending on their own feelings and desires, the intended parents and surrogate may choose to continue to have a relationship for years to come.
Become a Surrogate in California Find a Surrogate in California

Surrogacy in California FAQ

  • Surrogacy contracts, known legally as gestational carrier agreements, establish a framework for the partnership going forward, outlining rights, responsibilities, and expectations for all parties, signed by both surrogates and intended parents. These contracts are legally required in California, as they help settle any disagreements and prevent surprises from arising along the way.

  • Traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate uses her own eggs and is therefore genetically connected to the child, is permitted in California, with no state law prohibiting the practice.
    Intended parents using traditional surrogacy apply for a pre- or post-birth order to establish parenthood, but whether such an order is approved is left to the judge’s discretion. This practice tends to be much more legally and emotionally complicated and is not usually recommended.

    California state law does explicitly establish gestational surrogacy, the more common practice in which a donor egg is used, so the surrogate has no genetic relation to the child. At GSHC, we specialize solely in gestational surrogacy.

  • No, a surrogate cannot change her mind and decide to keep the child. Gestational carrier agreements in California require parenthood to be established via pre-birth order and prevent a surrogate from claiming legal parentage.

  • In California, upon signing the gestational surrogacy contract, intended parents file for a pre-birth order from a county judge, either in their home county, that of the surrogate, or that of the delivery hospital. The judge then issues this order, making it straightforward for hospitals to provide the intended parents with a birth certificate.

  • Compensation for surrogates varies based on specific individual circumstances, prior surrogacy experience, unique medical needs, and the details of the surrogacy contract. Surrogates receive base pay, supplemented by regular payments to cover medical, legal, and logistical costs throughout the pregnancy. In California, initial base pay for surrogates averages around $40,000 to $80,000.

  • Surrogates in California are required to undergo rigorous medical screenings to ensure they are physically and mentally healthy for the journey ahead. These screenings include psychological evaluations, to ensure mental readiness for surrogacy, as well as blood tests, to check hormone levels and to rule out communicable diseases.

Why GSHC: About Our Surrogacy Agency

GSHC Surrogacy Agency is an internationally recognized, full-service boutique agency dedicated to helping families grow through surrogacy and egg donation. With a core ethos centered on a passion for assisted reproduction and family building, we prioritize the highest level of service for both intended parents and surrogates. What sets us apart is our unique approach — 100% of our Case Managers are former surrogates themselves, providing unparalleled empathy and expertise. Our extensive pool of surrogates, close relationships with elite professionals, and commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusivity ensure a seamless journey toward parenthood. With GSHC Surrogacy Agency, you're in safe hands every step of the way. Learn more about how we can help facilitate your surrogacy journey in California.

Start your surrogacy journey with us.

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