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.

Intended Parents

Surrogacy for LGBTQ+ Families and Single Parents by Choice

April 1, 2026 · 8 min read · On Fertility Ground Surrogacy

There has never been just one way to build a family — but for a long time, the systems around family-building acted like there was. Gestational surrogacy has changed that, opening a real, well-supported path to parenthood for LGBTQ+ couples, gay dads, and single parents by choice. If that's you, here's how it works and what to expect.

For Gay Men and Male Couples

For two dads (or a single father by choice), surrogacy typically involves two partners in the process: an egg donor and a gestational surrogate. An embryo is created through IVF using donor eggs and sperm from an intended father, then transferred to the surrogate, who carries the pregnancy. Some couples choose to use one partner's sperm; others create embryos with each partner to keep options open. There's no single "right" configuration — the goal is the family at the end of it.

For Same-Sex Female Couples and Others Who Need a Carrier

Not everyone who wants to carry can, and not every couple wants to. Some female couples pursue reciprocal IVF, where one partner provides the egg and the other carries. When carrying isn't possible or safe for either partner, a gestational surrogate steps in to carry an embryo created from an intended parent's or donor's egg. The path flexes to fit your family, not the other way around.

For Single Parents by Choice

You do not need a partner to become a parent. Single-parent surrogacy is increasingly common, and the core process is the same — egg donor if needed, gestational surrogate, IVF, and a legal parentage order. The one area that deserves extra attention is planning: with one legal parent by default, guardianship and estate planning become an important part of protecting your child. A good agency and attorney will walk you through that so it's handled, not hanging over you.

The Legal Basics — and Why They Favor Gestational Surrogacy

Because a gestational surrogate has no genetic tie to the baby, establishing you as the legal parent(s) is generally more straightforward. Working in a surrogacy-friendly jurisdiction matters a great deal here — California, where we're based, is one of the strongest in the country — and in many cases parentage can be secured through a pre-birth order so your rights are in place at delivery. The specifics depend on your state and situation, which is exactly what your surrogacy attorney is there to navigate.

What to Look for in an Agency

The right agency does more than tolerate your family — it's built to serve it. Look for a team that affirms LGBTQ+ and single-parent journeys as ordinary and welcome, that matches you with a surrogate who's genuinely excited to carry for your family, and that handles the medical coordination and legal groundwork so you can focus on becoming a parent. Our guide on how to choose a surrogacy agency gives you the full vetting checklist.

At On Fertility Ground, LGBTQ+ families, multicultural families, and single parents by choice aren't an exception we accommodate. You're who we built this for.

Ready to explore your path to parenthood? Book a confidential consult and we'll walk you through your options, start to finish. Reach us at 510-808-6948 or info@onfertilityground.com.

From Our Founder

Bree — Founder & CEO, On Fertility Ground

One of my favorite match meetings ever was two dads, a surrogate, and her husband — four people from three cultures, laughing so hard in the first ten minutes that I barely had to facilitate anything. Afterward the surrogate told me, "I picked them the second I read their letter. I wanted to be part of THAT family's story."

That's the thing the industry took too long to learn: surrogates don't need families to look a certain way. They need families who are all-in on becoming parents. If you've ever wondered whether an agency would treat your family as a special case — here, you're just family. Full stop.

— Bree | info@onfertilityground.com · Meet Bree →

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.

This article is for general education and is not medical or legal advice. Surrogacy eligibility is always determined case by case by a fertility clinic's physician and a licensed reproductive attorney, and surrogacy laws vary by state. For guidance on your specific situation, reach out to our team.