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.

Diversity & Representation

Why Representation Matters in Surrogacy

April 12, 2026 · 7 min read · On Fertility Ground Surrogacy

The surrogacy industry, for most of its history, was built around one kind of family and one kind of surrogate. If you're a Black or brown woman thinking about carrying, a multicultural couple, an LGBTQ+ family, or a single parent by choice, you've probably felt that — in the imagery, in who gets believed in a doctor's office, in whether anyone in the room looks like you.

On Fertility Ground exists because that gap is real, and because it has real consequences. Here's why representation isn't a nice-to-have in this work. It's the whole point.

This Is a Health-Equity Issue, Not a Branding Choice

When someone carries a pregnancy for another family, their safety has to come first — and the data on maternal health makes that non-negotiable. Black women in the United States are roughly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and they face higher rates of serious complications, according to CDC data. A meaningful part of that gap comes down to not being heard: pain dismissed, concerns brushed off, warning signs missed.

An agency that understands this doesn't treat it as a footnote. It builds the whole journey — screening, matching, medical advocacy, and postpartum care — around keeping surrogates genuinely safe and genuinely heard. It's the standard we detail in what Black, brown, and BIPOC surrogates deserve.

What a Diversity-First Agency Actually Does Differently

Representation shows up in the details, not the mission statement. At OFG, that looks like:

You set your pay, and it's protected. No cap, no negotiating you downward, with escrow-backed payments — because financial fairness is part of respect.
Independent legal counsel. Your own attorney, representing only you, so your rights and your body are protected on paper.
Bodily autonomy written into the contract. Decisions about your body stay yours — spelled out, not assumed.
A birth doula in your corner. Someone advocating for you in the delivery room, when advocacy matters most.
Six months of postpartum check-ins. We stay with you through the postpartum window — the period when Black women are most at risk and when most agencies have already moved on.

None of this is charity. It's what care looks like when it's designed with your safety at the center from day one.

For Intended Parents, Representation Matters Too

Multicultural families, LGBTQ+ parents, and single parents by choice deserve an agency that recognizes their family on sight — not one they have to explain themselves to. That means matching that honors identity and culture, and a team that treats your path to parenthood as ordinary and worthy, because it is.

When you're building a family, the last thing you should have to manage is whether your professionals actually get you.

The Bottom Line

Representation in surrogacy isn't about optics. It's about who gets believed, who gets protected, and who gets to build a family with dignity. That's the standard we hold ourselves to — for our surrogates and for every family we serve.

Looking for an agency that was built for you? Whether you're considering becoming a surrogate or starting your family, we'd love to talk. Reach us at 510-808-6948 or info@onfertilityground.com.

From Our Founder

Bree — Founder & CEO, On Fertility Ground

I founded this agency after sitting in too many rooms where I was the only one who looked like me — as a professional, and as a Black mother who knows what it feels like to have a concern waved off in a hospital. The statistics in this article aren't abstract to me. They're the reason there's a doula in every OFG delivery room and a check-in call on my calendar six months after every birth.

People sometimes ask if "diversity-first" means we only serve certain families. It's the opposite: it means we built the safety net strong enough for the women the industry historically failed — and everyone who journeys with us stands on it.

— 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.