How long does the surrogacy process take in California?

The entire surrogacy journey typically takes 12-18 months from initial consultation to birth, depending on various factors including matching time and medical procedures.

What are the California surrogacy requirements to become a surrogate?

To become a surrogate in California, you must be between 21-40 years old, have had at least one successful pregnancy, maintain a healthy BMI, be a non-smoker, and live in a stable environment.

How much does surrogacy cost in California?

Total surrogacy journey costs typically range from $150,000 to $230,000+, including agency fees ($42,500), surrogate compensation, medical expenses, legal fees, insurance, and escrow. Every dollar is accounted for before you commit.

How much compensation do surrogates receive?

At On Fertility Ground, surrogates set their own base compensation rate — your worth, your choice. We never negotiate your rate down. Additional benefits include maternity clothing ($750-$1,000), monthly expense allowance ($250/month), embryo transfer fees, and more.

State Laws

Surrogacy in New York: The CPSA and the Surrogates' Bill of Rights

September 17, 2026 · 7 min read · On Fertility Ground Surrogacy

Last reviewed September 2026. General education, not legal advice — confirm with a licensed New York reproductive attorney.

New York banned compensated surrogacy for thirty years. Then the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA) took effect in 2021 and the state swung to the other end of the spectrum — legal, and with surrogate protections written directly into statute rather than left to contract.

How the CPSA Works

Compensated gestational surrogacy is legal and agreements are enforceable when they comply with Family Court Act Article 5-C.
Surrogacy programs must be licensed by the New York State Department of Health. This is unusual — most states don't license agencies at all.
Residency: at least one intended parent must be a U.S. citizen or have been a New York resident for at least six months, and the surrogate must either reside in New York or give birth there.
A Gestational Surrogates' Bill of Rights must be provided to the surrogate, and it applies to every agreement — including independent journeys arranged without a matching program.

Source: New York State Department of Health, surrogacy guidance; Family Court Act Article 5-C.

The Surrogates' Bill of Rights

This is the part worth reading even if you'll never do a journey in New York, because it's a useful benchmark for what a well-protected surrogate should have anywhere. It guarantees the surrogate rights covering:

Her health and medical decisions during the pregnancy.
Independent legal counsel of her own choosing, paid for by the intended parents.
Health insurance and life insurance arrangements.
The right to terminate the agreement under defined circumstances.

If you're considering a journey in a state with no equivalent statute, use this list as your checklist. Every one of these should be in your contract regardless of where you live — and at On Fertility Ground they are, plus you set your own base compensation.

What Trips People Up

The licensing requirement. If you're matching through a program for a New York journey, confirm that it holds a current New York Department of Health license. An unlicensed program operating a New York match is a problem you don't want to inherit.

The residency and birth-location rules. These are specific, and they're easy to fall foul of if a surrogate moves mid-journey or plans to deliver across a state line. Flag any relocation to your attorney immediately.

New York vs. California

Both are strong. New York's distinguishing feature is statutory surrogate protection and agency licensing; California's is a longer track record, a very well-worn pre-birth order process, and no residency or citizenship condition. Families and surrogates do well in either — the differences show up in logistics more than in outcomes. See the full state-by-state map and our California explainer.

If you're in New York and want a candid read on your options, email info@onfertilityground.com or take the 2-minute quiz.

Ready to Learn More?

Whether you're considering surrogacy as a surrogate or an intended parent, we're here to answer every question personally.

Become a Surrogate Intended Parent Inquiry

Email us at info@onfertilityground.com — We answer every inquiry personally.

General education, not legal advice. Reflects the Child-Parent Security Act and New York State Department of Health guidance as of September 2026. Any New York journey requires a licensed New York reproductive attorney and, where a program is involved, a DOH-licensed surrogacy program.