At Fertility Source Companies (FSC), we’re proud to work with gestational surrogates and intended parents from all across Minnesota, from Saint Paul and Minneapolis to Duluth, Maple Grove, and beyond. Whether you’re looking for a surrogate to fulfill your dreams of parenthood or are interested in becoming a surrogate to help others grow their families, the team at FSC is here to guide you every step of the way, from the initial process of matching surrogates and intended parents, to medical and legal processes, all the way to delivery.
“Thanks so much for your help on things. You rock. I appreciate all you have been doing for this process”
— G. C.
Finding a Surrogate in Minnesota
The expert team at FSC has years of experience helping intended parents find the right surrogate match for their specific preferences and needs. We specialize in gestational surrogacy only, in which the surrogate has no genetic link to the child (as opposed to traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate is genetically related to the child, which is much less common and much more emotionally complex). FSC is committed to facilitating a fulfilling and harmonious experience for everyone involved in the surrogacy process, walking both surrogates and intended parents through each stage of this unique journey. We’re also proud to be an LGBTQ+-friendly agency, working with people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and marital statuses.
Surrogacy Laws in Minnesota
Minnesota has no specific, defined laws around surrogacy, but courts are usually favorable toward intended parents and surrogates. To ensure a happy and healthy experience, it’s crucial that both surrogates and intended parents work with experienced surrogacy attorneys to draw up legal contracts that all parties will agree upon.
In Minnesota, the route by which parentage is established will be dependent on the specific courts; some will issue only pre-birth orders, for example, while others may only issue post-birth orders. Both of these establish parentage for the intended parents, with the former establishing it before the child is born, and the latter establishing it after the child is born. Some courts will allow intended parents who are not genetically related to the baby to obtain pre- or post-birth orders, while other courts will not. In these cases, non-genetically related intended parents will typically complete an adoption after the child is born to establish parentage.
If intended parents are unmarried, they may not be able to obtain a pre- or post-birth order through the courts and therefore may need to complete a second-parent adoption after delivery (similar to what a step-parent would do to establish parentage). Likewise, single intended parents may also need to establish parentage by way of adoption. The same laws that apply to heterosexual intended parents in Minnesota also apply to LGBTQ+ intended parents.
Surrogate Costs & Fees in Minnesota
In Minnesota, surrogacy costs and fees for intended parents typically run between $100,000 to $125,000. This includes an agency fee of approximately $30,000 and base surrogacy compensation of approximately $50,000, which is paid out in installments. Other factors will also contribute to overall surrogacy costs, such as allowances for miscellaneous costs including maternity wear, surrogacy-related transportation, and reimbursement for childcare and lost wages if applicable. Learn more about surrogacy costs.
How Surrogates Are Screened in Minnesota
At FSC, we take great care to thoroughly screen all surrogates to help create a rewarding and safe experience for all involved parties. We have strict criteria for surrogacy candidates and require all applicants to complete comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations to ensure they’re both physically and emotionally ready to take on the unique responsibilities of surrogacy. We also conduct in-depth interviews with all candidates to get more information on their qualifications, learn about their backgrounds, and better understand their reasons for wanting to become a surrogate. These processes act as safeguards throughout the surrogacy journey, helping to facilitate a positive experience for the surrogate and the intended parents alike.
Surrogacy FAQs for Intended Parents
Overall, the surrogacy process typically spans about one to two years. This begins with the initial surrogate application and screening processes, followed by the matching process, in which we’ll help pair surrogates with intended parents. From there, legal processes can begin, followed by fertility-related medical processes for the surrogates, concluding with delivery. In some cases, intended parents may choose to continue some form of communication with the surrogate after childbirth; if so, this would be clearly outlined in the surrogacy contract agreed upon by all parties.
Although there is no specific law in Minnesota outlining requirements for intended parents, it’s generally considered best practice to pursue surrogacy only when there is a medical need for it—for example, if an intended parent cannot safely carry or deliver a child on their own; if it’s biologically impossible, such as in cases of single men or male same-sex couples; or if intended parents have certain genetic disorders that may put the baby at risk. Other examples of medical needs include not having a uterus or having a damaged uterus, a history of miscarriages or stillbirths, having severe uterine fibroids, or having had cancer or other conditions that affect one’s fertility.
Intended parents will be able to decide how much contact they have with their surrogates, and these specifications will be laid out clearly in the surrogacy contract, which all parties will review and agree upon before signing. In most cases, intended parents wish to accompany the surrogate to medical appointments and are present at childbirth. Some parents decide to remain in contact with the surrogate after delivery. All of these preferences and expectations will be clearly laid out in the surrogacy contract.
Find a Surrogate in Minnesota
Contact us to learn more about our program and begin your path to growing your family.
Most people who act as surrogates for intended parents come away from the experience with a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude for having had the opportunity to tangibly help people realize their dreams of parenthood. However, it’s important to carefully consider the various complexities of the process and ensure you’re emotionally prepared to embark on this unique journey. The caring team at FSC has a full understanding of the ins and outs of surrogacy and works closely with surrogates to guide them through the process.
Why Become a Surrogate in Minnesota
Becoming a surrogate in Minnesota can be a life-changing experience, helping people grow their families while providing you with a deep sense of fulfillment, generous monetary compensation, and a better understanding of your overall health and fertility. As a leading surrogacy agency, we offer competitive pay and a structured program that provides you with everything you need for a happy, healthy surrogacy.
Surrogate Requirements in Minnesota
To ensure the safety and well-being of the surrogate and intended parents, as well as the child, FSC maintains stringent surrogate requirements. Some of our key criteria include:
Age 21–43 years old
Have delivered one child you are currently raising
Good overall health, with a BMI of 32 or less
Financially stable, with no federal or state assistance
No smoking or drug use
Stable housing and home life
U.S. citizen or legal right to work in the U.S.
No more than five live births, no more than three C-sections
The surrogacy process in Minnesota begins with the surrogate application process. People who think they’d be good candidates for surrogacy will outline their qualifications, preferences, general background information and reasons for pursuing surrogacy. Our team will review all applications with care. Anyone who progresses to the next stage will meet with our team and undergo required physical and mental health screenings. From there, we can begin matching surrogates with intended parents based on common values, preferences, and overall compatibility.
When a match has been made, the intended parents and their attorney will draft a surrogacy contract. The surrogate will review this with her own attorney to request any tweaks and ask any questions they may have. When all parties are happy with the contract, the surrogate will begin hormonal treatments to prepare her body for embryo transfer. Caring, experienced medical professionals and the knowledgeable team at FSC will work closely with the surrogate throughout this special journey.
Surrogacy Pay & Compensation in Minnesota
In Minnesota, first-time surrogates typically receive a base pay of about $50,000, while those with prior surrogacy experience will receive $55,000 base pay. This is paid out over eight months in installments. We understand the deep commitment involved in surrogacy and take pride in offering generous, competitive compensation. Surrogates in Minnesota also receive allowances for various expenses along the way, such as maternity clothing, surrogacy-related travel, meals, reimbursement for insurance premiums and medications, and more. Learn more about surrogate compensation.
Apply to Become a Surrogate in Minnesota
Are you ready to become a surrogate? We’ve worked with surrogates from all over Illinois, including but not limited to, Chicago, Springfield, and Rockford. Start your surrogacy journey and apply today! Become a Surrogate in Minnesota
Egg Donor FAQs
Yes, surrogates have a say in the intended parents they work with. During the matching process, FSC will strive to pair surrogates with intended parents who have similar values, lifestyle preferences, and overall personality traits in order to facilitate as harmonious and stress-free an experience as possible. We’ll set up meetings for the intended parents and the surrogate to get to know one another, ask any questions they may have, and determine their overall compatibility.
This is up to you and the intended parents, but in most cases, egg donation is anonymous to protect the privacy of all parties, and donors and parents don’t end up meeting. But there are plenty of instances in which the donor and recipients do agree to meet.
It’s important to know, however, that the advent of genetic testing kits becoming more widely available to the general public means that, although this is rare, a child born using your donation could have the ability to discover your identity sometime in the future.
You cannot be made responsible for the child after delivery, and you’ll have no legal obligation to the child, and any expectations regarding potential contact between the surrogate and the child and/or the intended parents will be outlined in detail within the surrogacy contract. In most cases, surrogates do not have much contact, if any, with the intended parents or the child, but some contracts do specify that communication can remain open, and some surrogates and intended parents even remain lifelong friends after establishing a special bond during the surrogacy process.
Our Partner Clinics in Minnesota
FSC is proud to work with several partner fertility clinics throughout Minnesota. To learn more about these clinics’ egg donor and surrogacy processes, explore their websites or contact their teams directly. If you don’t see your clinic listed here, please contact us and we can make appropriate arrangements with you.
Partner Clinics
Center for Reproductive Medicine – Minneapolis 2828 Chicago Avenue South, Suite #400 Minneapolis, MN 55407 Ph: 612-863-5390 Web: https://ivfminnesota.com/
If you don’t see your clinic listed here, please contact us and we can make appropriate arrangements with you
