Intended Parents

Sign on with Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists (WSS). The first step of every journey involves two important documents: the Intended Parent(s) Profile and the WSS Comprehensive Retainer. You will also pay the first half of the agency fee: $14,000.

Choose your fertility clinic. If you haven’t chosen one yet, now is the time to find the fertility clinic that’s right for you. In the meantime, WSS will begin the Gestational Carrier search.

• I.

  WSS starts the search for your Gestational Carrier.

  Finding the right Gestational Carrier takes approximately 6 months. Note: The time for finding a Gestational Carrier will vary based on criteria presented by the IPs and their chosen IVF clinic.

• II.

  Gestational Carrier Screening Process begins.

  The WSS Screening process begins with a prescreen, in which potential Gestational Carriers complete a variety of evaluations:

  • i.

    Clinical Evaluation. A licensed clinical psychologist evaluates both the Gestational Carrier and her spouse, live-in partner, or significant other.

  • ii.

    Standardized Personality Test. The Gestational Carrier will complete the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI).

  • iii.

    Background Checks. Criminal Background Checks will be done on both the Gestational Carrier and her spouse, live-in partner, or significant other.

  • iv.

    Interview with Social Worker. The social worker asks a series of questions on the surrogate’s living situation, her pregnancy experience, her family structure, existing support systems, and motivations to become a surrogate.

  • v.

    Medical Records Review. A Reproductive Endocrinologist will go over the Gestational Carrier’s past pregnancy, OB & delivery records.

  • vi.

    Insurance Evaluation. WSS will refer to an expert to evaluate whether or not the Gestational Carrier has suitable insurance or if insurance must be purchased by the Intended Parent(s).

Participate in an information session with social worker. A licensed social worker conducts an information session to discuss topics IPs may encounter before, during, and after their surrogacy journey.

Receive Gestational Carrier profile. You will receive the initial Gestational Carrier profile for review from WSS (Note: WSS presents one Gestational Carrier profile at a time to Intended Parents). If you’re interested in a candidate, WSS presents your Intended Parent(s) profile to the Gestational Carrier.

Meet your Gestational Carrier. When both you and the Gestational Carrier mutually approve of each other’s profiles, WSS will set up a Skype, call, FaceTime, or in-person meeting (if desired) so you can get to know each other.

It’s a Match! If the introductory meeting goes well and all parties decide to move forward, then WSS will send the ͞It’s a Match͟ email confirming that all parties would like to move forward with each other. At this point, the second-half of the agency fee is due ($14,000) as well as the initial escrow deposit of $16,000.

Draft the Gestational Carrier Contract. The Gestational Carrier Agreement will be drafted and sent to you for initial review and approval. Upon approval, the contract will be sent to the Gestational Carrier for review and approval. Negotiations will take place and the contract will then be finalized and executed. The fee for the drafting, review & negotiation of the Gestational Carrier Agreement will then be due. (Note: Intended Parent(s) will also be responsible for the Gestational Carrier’s legal fees.)

Escrow is funded. In order for the escrow account to be fully funded, the Intended Parents will need to fund the Gestational Carrier's base compensation plus an additional $25,000. (Example: If the Gestational Carrier’s base compensation is $30,000, then $55,000 will be due at this point. This is in addition to the initial funding of $16,000 noted in Step 6.)

Legal clearance sent to clinic. Once the contracts are signed and escrow has been fully funded, legal clearance will be sent to the clinic. The IVF clinic will then contact the Gestational Carrier to set up a testing appointment.

Gestational Surrogate attends the testing appointment. The clinic will contact both the Intended Parent(s) and the Gestational Carrier to proceed with screening, which includes a medical examination of the Gestational Carrier in addition to blood work for her spouse, live-in partner, or significant other. WSS will arrange travel for the Gestational Carrier if requested by the Intended Parent(s).

Final Gestational Carrier clearance. After the testing appointment, the clinic will notify all parties of the final Gestational Carrier clearance and provide a medical calendar which will outline the Gestational Carrier’s medication protocol, ultrasound dates, etc., as well as the dates for the medication regimen in preparation for the embryo transfer.

Embryo transfer takes place. After the embryo transfer, WSS will continue to monitor and supervise progress of the surrogacy journey with the Intended Parent(s) and Gestational Carrier.

WSS coordinates legal parentage work. WSS will coordinate with the Attorney in the state where the Gestational Carrier resides in terms of the pre-birth or post-birth order, and the legal matters surrounding the birth certificate and establishing the Intended Parent(s)’ legal parentage.

WSS notifies hospital of surrogacy birth. WSS advises Intended Parents to arrange a tour of the hospital where the Gestational Carrier will be delivering so they can get an idea of what to expect at the time of the birth. WSS will be on call for questions during the delivery and birth.