What’s the difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy?

In a gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not genetically related to the baby she carries. A fertility clinic creates embryos consisting of eggs and sperm from the intended parents and/or from donors and then transfers the embryos to a surrogate via IVF (in vitro fertilization). The intended parents usually establish parental rights before the baby is born. NJSC works exclusively on gestational surrogacy.

In a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own eggs are fertilized via artificial insemination with the sperm of a donor or an intended parent. The baby shares genetic material with the surrogate mother as well as with an intended parent or donor.

St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston New Jersey provides world class IVF services in northern New Jersey. Please visit this link for more detailed information regarding procedures clinic costs. NJSC also works with any IVF clinic of your selection.

How much does surrogacy cost?

The costs of surrogacy can vary widely based on a number of factors, including whether you need the assistance of an egg donor, whether you are expecting twins, and your surrogate’s individual situation.

NJSC is aware of the financial stress that intended parents may have experienced before deciding to pursue surrogacy. We are continually striving to keep expenses down and have designed our program to minimize the surrogacy costs. Our fees are lower than those at many other surrogacy agencies. We also do not have any of the hidden fees that are common in other agencies’ estimates; our listed agency fees cover all of our work, and we aim to make our estimates of the surrogacy and medical expenses as realistic and comprehensive as possible. Please see surrogacy prices for more information.

Why should we choose new jersey Surrogacy Center, LLC?

· We have new surrogates constantly signing up. We work only with the most qualified and interested.

· We know that surrogacy can be a financial strain, and we do everything we can to keep our costs low. We also strive for absolute transparency. Our costs are competitive even before taking into account the hidden fees some agencies use.

· We meet all of our surrogates in person before we introduce them to you. This allows us to get to know them in depth before connecting you with the right one.

· We offer intimate, personalized services. Don’t worry about high staff turnover or coordinators who don’t know your name; you’ll connect with the same people every time you call.

· We are a professional organization started by three lawyers with combined legal experience of over 110 years, and have the resources, network, and experience to show for it.

· We will only work with prestigious IVF clinics that have some of the highest success rates in the United States.

· Our flagship office is located in the lovely Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey, a short train trip from downtown Manhattan, and we also have an office in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey both of which are easily accessible to metropolitan New York City. The entire area is a perfect place to visit while you plan for the birth of your child.

· While some agencies disappear between the transfer and the birth, we support you every step of the way. We are prepared to manage any issues that come up during or after the pregnancy, and are always available to assist you with your relationship with your surrogate.

· At week 20 of the pregnancy, our Intended Parent Concierge will reach out to see how they can assist you in any aspects of preparing for baby. Leave the arrangements to us while you enjoy the last few weeks of the pregnancy!

· When it’s time for you to take your new baby home, we and the attorneys who represent you will assist with anything you need to complete your surrogacy, whether that’s establishing parentage or returning your child to your own country.

What does NjsC’s fee include?

· NJSC matches you with a surrogate, obtains criminal background checks on her and her partner, and conducts introductory meetings. We arrange for the surrogate’s medical and both surrogate and intended parents’ psychological screenings. We prepare a contract between you and the surrogate, which you will review with separate attorneys. We assist in coordinating medical care; manage the financial relationship between you and the surrogate; and pay other professionals involved in the surrogacy process. We will also actively help to resolve any concerns or issues you have before, during, and after the pregnancy. Our staff can help you manage your travel plans and acquire necessary baby items when your surrogate delivers.

Is surrogacy legal in new jersey?

· Surrogacy is legal in New Jersey where state law provides that a surrogate can be compensated for her reasonable expenses.

· The full version of the New Jersey Gestational Carrier Act 2018: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S0500/482_R2.PDF

Do you work with intended parents who live outside of new jersey?

Yes, NJSC works with many intended parents throughout the United States and abroad. The New Jersey Gestational Carrier Act applies to births in New Jersey. Intended parents may reside anywhere.

Wherever you live, we encourage you to attend as many of your surrogate’s medical appointments as you are interested in and able to, and to attend the birth of your child. You are welcome to spend as much time in the surrogate’s state with her as you and she wish, and you may choose to connect with her by phone, Skype, and email when you are not able to be physically present.

Do you work with surrogates outside of new jersey?

Yes.

What fertility clinics does njsc work with?

The short answer is that NJSC will work with any clinic you select. You should understand that New Jersey Surrogacy Center LLC represents that it has no ownership interest in or direct affiliation with any other business entity. Including any IVF clinic or Doctor. You will pay your IVF clinic directly for any related IVF fees. Additionally we have no affiliation with any insurance company or financial institutions.

Selection of medical IVF clinics, is a personal choice and we will work with the clinic of your selection. Our northern New Jersey location is fortunate to have several prestigious clinics just minutes away:

The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill-Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York.

New York University Langone Fertility Center, New York City, New York.

St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston New Jersey.

Valley Hospital, Valley Health, Ridgewood and Paramus NJ.

We encourage you to arrange a consultation with the clinic of your choice at the same time that you begin the process with NJSC.

Why do women choose to be surrogate mothers?

We select surrogates who genuinely want to help other people have children. Most of them love being pregnant and have easy pregnancies. They may know that they are done having children for themselves but want to continue to experience being pregnant. Each surrogate has her own thoughts about sharing happiness and fulfillment with intended parents. They also feel strongly about helping same sex couples build a family. Surrogate selected are financially stable and secure, and not recipients of government assistance. The compensation they receive may allow them to stay home with their children, go back to school, or fulfill a lifelong dream.

What is the typical surrogate like?

We rigorously recruit the best candidates for surrogacy. We seek out women who are mature, stable, and enjoy being pregnant. Surrogates range in age, experience, and personality type, but all of them want to help people have children.

Surrogates, under New Jersey law, have previously given birth to a healthy child and are actively parenting their child. Many are married and employed. A surrogate must be between 21 and 42 years old. We do not accept smokers, and surrogates are required to abstain from drugs and alcohol. They must be willing and able to go through the demands of medical procedures, pregnancy, and placement of the baby. Potential surrogates must pass an interview with our agency, a background check, a psychological evaluation performed by a clinical psychologist, a home visit, and medical examinations.

How will we select a surrogate?

NJSC begins by identifying a surrogate or surrogates we believe will be a good match for you based on a number of factors, especially shared expectations and goals for the surrogacy process. We then provide you with detailed information on these potential surrogates. You receive a profile with information including the surrogate’s biographical information, medical and social history, personal interests, and photos of her and her family. We also provide information on the surrogate’s spouse or partner, if she has one. Most importantly, you have the opportunity to meet and get to know your surrogate. You may continue to review profiles and meet candidates until we find a surrogate you feel comfortable with.

What is the relationship like between surrogate and intended parents?

The nature of the relationship between you and your surrogate is up to you and her. However, NJSC encourages you to spend time with your surrogate beyond the introductory meetings in our office. We believe that a relationship between a surrogate and intended parents creates trust and serves as an important foundation for the surrogacy process.

Some intended parents prefer to be involved only for major medical events, such as the embryo transfer and the birth. Many others want to be intimately involved in the pregnancy and attend many of their surrogate’s appointments and procedures, or spend time with their surrogate socially. Surrogates and intended parents sometimes develop an intense and lifelong bond, and almost all of them remain in contact in some fashion after the birth.

Whatever kind of relationship you are looking for, NJSC is careful to match intended parents and surrogates who have similar goals and expectations.

As gay intended parents, will we be able to find a surrogate willing to work with us?

The metropolitan New York/New Jersey area is a uniquely welcoming and progressive regions of the United States. Many of our surrogates are eager to work with LGBT couples or individuals (link to our LGBT IP page), and wish to help you grow your family. A large percentage of our intended parents are gay.

Can I choose surrogacy even if I am medically able to carry my own child?

While some surrogacy agencies accept intended parents who are medically able to experience pregnancy, NJSC works only with intended parents who are physically unable to carry a pregnancy.

How long will it take to match us with a surrogate?

Depending on your particular needs and expectations, finding the right surrogate for you might happen in a few months or it may take longer. Please contact us for an estimate of how long it may take to find you a surrogate based on when you sign up.

How quickly can our surrogate become pregnant after we meet her?

It typically takes at least three months from the initial meeting to the first IVF attempt. We have to conduct additional screenings and draw up contracts, and your surrogate will have to undergo six weeks of medications to prepare for the embryo transfer. If you are using an egg donor it may take longer, as the donor will have to synchronize her cycle with the surrogate’s cycle. However, many intended parents are welcoming a new baby to the world about a year after they meet their surrogate for the first time.

What if our surrogate doesn’t have health insurance?

Some of our surrogates do have health insurance of their own. If yours does not, you will provide her with health insurance for the duration of the surrogacy.

If the first attempt at pregnancy fails, can we try again? What fees will we owe?

Most surrogates agree to undergo up to three rounds of IVF. While a surrogate is never required to undergo an IVF procedure if she does not want to, most wish to continue trying until a pregnancy is achieved.

If your surrogate does not become pregnant, you will not recover any fees and expenses you have paid up until that point. You will need to continue paying the embryo transfer fee and your surrogate’s monthly allowance through additional attempts. Your surrogate does not start receiving her base fee until confirmation of pregnancy by ultrasound.

Your last fee to NJSC is only due upon confirmation of pregnancy by ultrasound. NJSC will continue to work with you and your surrogate through multiple transfers, and will help you find a different surrogate if a failure was related to your chosen surrogate.

Has a surrogate ever decided she wants custody of the baby?

One of the benefits of NJSC Surrogacy is that each of our surrogates must complete a extensive application and interview process. Surrogates are aware from the beginning that the baby is not theirs, genetically or practically, and report that they do not experience the same level of bonding as they did with their own children. The New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act 2018 is clear and your parental rights will be established before the birth of your child. Both she and her partner, if she has one, have agreed to the Act and understand and agree in writing with the intent of all of the parties.

How will we become the legal parents of our child?

There are well-established law in New Jersey and now a specific statute to create the intended parents’ legal rights. Both parties enter into a contract before the surrogacy begins. If the surrogate is married (domestic partnership/ civil unions include) her spouse must also be a party to the contract. The contract includes the terms required for the parties prior to conception, during the pregnancy, and after the birth.

Should we tell people that we’re working with a surrogate?

This is a very personal decision, and one that you must make for yourself and your family. Most people who have children by surrogacy are open about their experience throughout the process, but some prefer to keep it private.

Surrogacy has become increasingly mainstream in recent years. NJSC believes that it is an amazing experience for parents and surrogates alike, and we encourage them to celebrate it openly. More importantly, however, we encourage you to discuss this decision with other parents who have had children through surrogacy.