The Surrogacy Journey in Florida

Your Guide to Finding or Becoming a Surrogate in Miami, Tampa, and Throughout Florida

Whether you’re seeking a surrogate in Florida to help you realize your dreams of parenthood or are interested in becoming a surrogate to help intended parents grow their families, GSHC Surrogacy Agency is here to help. Our dedicated, compassionate team has years of experience assisting both surrogates and intended parents on these exciting journeys, from legal processes to medical procedures and everything in between.

• Who Uses a Surrogate?
• Become a Surrogate in Florida
• Find a Surrogate in Florida
• Surrogacy Laws in Florida
• The GSHC Surrogacy Process
• Surrogacy in Florida FAQ
• Why GSHC: About Our Surrogacy Agency

Surrogacy in Regional Florida

• Surrogacy in Miami
• Surrogacy in Tampa
• Surrogacy in Fort Lauderdale
• Surrogacy in Orlando

Become a Surrogate in Florida

GSHC has years of experience helping surrogates throughout every step of this unique, fulfilling experience, and will work closely with you to ensure you’re comfortable and well-informed about every aspect of surrogacy. Whether you’re in Miami, Orlando, or any other part of the state, GSHC can guide you through the process.

Surrogate Compensation in Florida: How Much Are Surrogates Paid?

GSHC is proud to offer competitive compensation to all surrogates working with us. We understand the deep commitment involved in surrogacy and provide compensation that accurately reflects this.

Whether you’re located in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, or elsewhere in Florida, base pay typically ranges from $40,000 to $80,000 and will depend on various factors, including the individual surrogacy contract and any prior surrogacy experience. This will be split into 10 equal installments, which will begin once you become pregnant and continue throughout the pregnancy. Any remaining base compensation will be paid off about 15 days post-delivery, so surrogates can feel secure and comfortable during the entire process.

In addition to base pay, extra compensation will also be provided, including:

• Monthly allowances
• $250,000 life insurance policy
• Insurance premiums
• Prescription copays
• Maternity clothing
• Travel and transportation reimbursement
• Housekeeping costs
• Milestone payments throughout pregnancy
• Any special requirements laid out in the surrogacy contract

Learn More About Surrogate Compensation

Surrogate Requirements in Florida

To ensure the safety and well-being of the surrogate as well as the baby, potential surrogates must meet certain criteria. Some of GSHC’s key requirements include:

• Age 21–38
• Have had at least one child of your own
• Good overall health, BMI of 31 or less
• No more than three C-sections
• No more than five previous pregnancies
• Financial stability, no government assistance

If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate, please read through our full list of requirements, and feel free to contact us if you need clarification or more information.

Learn More About Surrogate Requirements

Find a Surrogate in Florida

If you’re considering working with a surrogate in Orlando, Miami, or elsewhere throughout the Sunshine State, GSHC Surrogacy Agency can help you navigate every step of this unique and exciting journey. We’ll start by helping you find the perfect surrogate match based on personality, shared values, and any special considerations, then walk you through surrogacy costs, legal considerations, and everything else you need to know.

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in Florida?

Total surrogacy costs in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and other parts of Florida will vary from case to case, but typical expenses will include:

• Base compensation
• Monthly allowances, milestone fees, and other fees
• Lost wages reimbursement
• Agency fees
• Maternity wear
• Screening fees
• Insurance costs
• Medical expenses
• Insurance and prescription reimbursement
• Childcare and housekeeping reimbursement

Providing a concrete figure upfront can be difficult, as expenses will inevitably vary depending on individual circumstances, medical needs, and any unexpected circumstances, but GSHC is committed to transparency and will outline all potential costs at the outset of the process.

Learn More About Surrogacy Costs

How to Find a Surrogate in Florida

Creating a happy, harmonious surrogacy journey in Tampa, Orlando, or any other area in Florida begins with finding the right match. Several factors must be taken into account when looking for the right surrogate, and GSHC will help ensure you find the right match for your specific preferences and needs.

During the initial stages of the matching process, our team will carefully review potential surrogates, assessing overall personality, values, and preferences. Once we identify an ideal match for you, we’ll set up an introductory meeting so you can get to know one another and discuss expectations for the surrogacy process. If both parties are happy with the pairing, the legal process can begin; this will start with your attorney drafting a surrogacy contract, which will outline surrogate responsibilities, rights, and overall expectations for both the intended parents and the surrogate.

Using an Egg Donor and Surrogate in Florida

For some intended parents, the surrogacy journey also includes using an egg donor. Under Florida law, egg donors have no parental obligations or rights to any child born as a result of the donation. In addition to serving as a surrogacy agency, GSHC is also an egg donor center, helping to connect egg donors and intended parents throughout the state of Florida, including the Miami, Tampa, and Orlando metro areas. Whether you’re seeking only surrogacy services or surrogacy services as well as an egg donor, our caring, committed team will work with you one-on-one to meet your needs.

Searching for an egg donor? Register for access to our egg donor database.

LGBTQ+ Surrogacy in Florida

In Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and throughout Florida, LGBTQ+ people have a protected legal right to use surrogacy services. With this legal framework in place, they can feel confident that they won’t be discriminated against based on sexual orientation. At GSHC, we’re proud to work with LGBTQ+ couples and individuals hoping to build their families.

Surrogacy Laws in Florida

• Legal Recognition

  Surrogacy is legally recognized in the state of Florida and supported by statute. Surrogacy contracts are designed to protect all involved parties and must detail all expectations and obligations for both intended parents and surrogates. Florida law recognizes contracts for both gestational surrogacy, in which the surrogate has no genetic link to the child, as well as traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate is genetically related to the child.

• Gestational Surrogate Requirements

  Florida’s legal requirements for gestational surrogacy are as follows:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Have independent legal counsel
  • Undergo mental health counseling

  Agencies will maintain stringent requirements of their own, however. Some of our requirements, for example, include:

  • Age 21–38
  • Have had at least one child of your own
  • Good physical health, BMI of 31 or less
  • No smoking or drug use
  • No history of mental illness
  • Stable living environment, no short-term visiting or moving plan within months of completing a cycle
  • Financial stability, no government assistance
  • No more than three C-sections
  • No more than five previous pregnancies
  • U.S. citizen, no felonies

• Intended Parents Requirements

  Under Florida statute, intended parents using a gestational surrogate must also meet certain criteria:

  • At least 18 years old
  • Have independent legal counsel
  • At least one intended parent has a genetic link to the child
  • Have a medical need for surrogacy, such as infertility, being a same-sex couple, uterus scarring, or a history of pregnancy complications or miscarriages, as well as some preexisting conditions that could pose risks, such as preeclampsia, heart disease, or diabetes
  • Be married (single people and unmarried partners can still use surrogacy services, but different laws apply, as outlined in the next sections)

• Unmarried Couple or Single Intended Parents

  Florida statute allows for gestational surrogacy contracts (in which the surrogate is not genetically related to the child) for married couples only. This applies to both married LGBTQA+ and married heterosexual couples.

  However, single people, unmarried couples, and intended parents who will have no genetic relation can pursue gestational surrogacy in Florida under a pre-planned adoption agreement, or, for intended parents with at least one genetic relation to the child, a maternity/paternity action. Working with a lawyer who specializes in these types of scenarios will help make the process as seamless as possible.

• Traditional Surrogacy

  Traditional surrogacy is covered by Florida Statutes Chapter 63.213 and is not covered by the state gestational surrogacy statute. This type of surrogacy is more complex, more risky, and less common.

  Traditional surrogacy applies in setups in which the surrogate is using her own embryo to create a pregnancy. Same-sex male couples, single men, and women who cannot produce healthy eggs on their own may choose traditional surrogacy.

  In this setup, the intended parent(s) and the surrogate sign a pre-planned adoption agreement, which stipulates that the surrogate will rescind her parental legal rights. However, because the surrogate has a genetic relationship with the child, she may rescind her consent to the adoption up to 48 hours after birth, in accordance with Florida Statutes Chapter 63.213.

• Gestational Carrier Agreement

  To be legally binding, a gestational agreement in Florida must meet the following requirements, at minimum, under Florida Statutes Chapter 742.15:

  • Both the gestational surrogate and the intended parents must have independent legal counsel.
  • The surrogate must agree to reasonable medical evaluation and screenings.
  • The surrogate must agree to relinquish all rights to the child.
  • The surrogate must be able to choose her own OB/GYN.
  • The surrogate must be specified as the sole source of consent for clinical intervention and pregnancy management.
  • The intended parents must agree to accept custody of the child regardless of any impairment or disability.
  • The agreement must outline terms for the surrogate’s compensation.
  • The agreement must outline penalties in the event of a breach of contract.
  • The agreement must be in writing and signed by all parties before the surrogate begins fertility treatments.

• Parentage Establishment

  Under Florida Statutes Chapter 742.16, the intended parents must file a petition for affirmation of parental rights within three days of delivery. This is legally required for parentage establishment and ensures legal parental rights for the intended parents.

  Pre-birth orders are allowed and recommended but not legally required. Taking place during the second trimester, this involves the intended parents and their attorney filing a petition for affirmation of parental rights with the court. This makes it easier for the intended parents to be present at the hospital during delivery and also makes it easier to amend the birth certificate to include their names. This pre-birth order does not establish legal parental rights in and of itself.

• Legal Representation

  Florida requires intended parents and surrogates to have separate legal representation. They cannot use the same attorney. Intended parents must pay for the surrogate’s attorney as well as their own.

• LGBTQ+ Considerations

  Florida surrogacy laws allow all intended parents to pursue surrogacy, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. Although the gestational surrogacy statute does not apply to single people, unmarried partners, or intended parents with no genetic relation to the child, they can still pursue surrogacy via a pre-planned adoption agreement or maternity/paternity petition, depending on the situation.

  For LGBTQ+ intended parents pursuing traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate is genetically related to the child, they must proceed under a pre-planned adoption agreement, pursuant to Florida Statutes Chapter 63.213. Traditional surrogacy involves more risk and is much less common.

  Working with a lawyer who specializes in your particular situation and goals will help ensure as seamless and stress-free an experience as possible.