Sometimes, a hopeful intended parent will turn to a family member or someone they know to help make their dreams come true.  

If you’ve been approached about being a surrogate for a family member, then you should know that: 

• Becoming a surrogate for a family member or friend asks for careful thought and planning, but the right professional can help will walk you through every step.  
• Becoming a surrogate for a family member is a wonderful and incredible gift, and you can leave the experience with a stronger relationship.  
• Altruistic surrogacy will always be an option. But your surrogacy professional and attorney can come up with a set amount of compensation that everyone feels comfortable with.  

To learn more about what surrogacy agencies are looking for in potential candidates and how to become one, keep reading. If you’re ready to start the process now, a specialist would be more than happy to answer your questions through our contact form.  

Can You Be a Surrogate for a Family Member? 

Yes, as long as you meet the requirements! Typically, a surrogate is expected to: 

• Be between the ages of 21-35 
• Have at least one successful pregnancy 
• Be currently raising a child in her home 
• Not partake in any illegal drugs or substances 

As a gestational surrogate, you won’t need to deal with the messiness of traditional surrogacy. You won’t be biologically tied to the child you’re carrying, which means that you’ll have no legal responsibilities. So, you can sit back and watch the intended parents fulfill their dream of being parents after delivery.  

How Do I Become a Surrogate for a Family Member? [5 Simple Steps] 

Becoming a surrogate mother for a friend or family member is simpler than you might expect. While every agency is different, these are the steps that you can expect:

Step 1: Find a surrogacy professional  

Finding the right professional is the first and most important step. If you’re thinking of being a surrogate for family, they can walk you through everything you need to know. Becoming a surrogate for a family member or friend can get complicated, so it’s better to work with someone who knows what they’re doing.  

A great place to start would be to fill out our free contact form. You can also reach out to any of these agencies:

• American Surrogacy
• Circle Surrogacy
• Creating Families

Step 2: Complete the screening process  

Any woman who decides to become a surrogate for a family member needs to participate in a medical and psychological screening. We know it sounds like a lot of work, but it’s a major step to ensuring that you’re physically and mentally ready for the surrogacy journey ahead.   

Step 3: Finalize your legal contract  

Even if you have a good relationship with your family member, you still need to get everything in writing. A surrogacy contract protects everyone and makes sure that you’re being fairly represented. With the help of an experienced surrogacy attorney, you’ll cover:  

• The amount of compensation you’ll receive  
• What-if scenarios, like an embryo transfer failure  
• Your risks and responsibilities as a surrogate  
• Your health responsibilities  
• And more  

Once everything has been agreed upon, you’ll finally start the medical process!   

Step 4: Begin the embryo transfer process  

As the surrogate, you’ll start taking fertility medications to help prepare your body for the embryo transfer. If the implantation goes well, and a heartbeat is heard, then you’ll start receiving base compensation.  

Step 5: Prepare for the hospital stay  

As a surrogate mother for a family member, you will usually be joined by the intended parents at the hospital when it’s time for delivery. After the baby is born, and you’re ready to be discharged, you’ll leave the hospital with your relationship shaped in a brand-new way.  

Getting through the surrogacy process is fairly simple. But if you realize that you have questions about surrogacy for family members, don’t hesitate to reach out.  

Do I Need to be Compensated as a Surrogate Family Member? 

If you choose to, you can participate in an altruistic surrogacy. For many intended parents, this is one of the appeals of surrogacy within the family. They don’t have to worry as much about finances, and you can rest easy knowing that you’ve given them a wonderful gift. But in reality, not being compensated fairly can easily put a strain on your relationship.  

On the intended parent’s side, they can start to feel indebted to you. You’ve single-handedly fulfilled their dreams of becoming a family, and they might feel like they can never truly repay you.

But they’re not the only ones who might feel uncomfortable afterward. As the surrogate for a family member, you’ve just put your body through serious mental and physical stress. Even if you didn’t feel this way in the beginning, it might feel like your family member has just taken advantage of your good –nature. In the end, neither side comes out feeling good about their decision.  

To avoid any unpleasantness during surrogacy for a family member, it’s a good idea to agree on at least some amount of compensation.  

What if I Don’t Want to Do Surrogacy Within the Family? 

Becoming a surrogate is a selfless gift. But if you decide that becoming a surrogate for a family  member specifically isn’t right for you, there are other options available. With the help of a surrogacy agency, you can find intended parents who fit exactly what you’re looking for, just like Megan did: 

Megan said, “I didn’t just have babies for somebody else; I gained an entire family through the whole process. It was the most rewarding thing in the entire world. I would do it all over again.”   

If you do decide that family member surrogacy is right for you, an agency is still a great place to start. They can help you and the intended parents with things like: 

• Finding a surrogacy attorney 
• Support when you need it 
• Help drafting your surrogacy contract 
• And more 

For Codi, not using the services for an agency was never an option: 

“When I first started the process, I had no idea what to do. And so having an agency really took that fear away. I could talk through it with someone that knew all the legal ramifications and what needed to take place there. I felt safe,” she said. 

So, if you’re feeling unsure, always reach out to a surrogacy agency for help.  If you’re ready to learn more about becoming a surrogate for a family member, please feel free to reach out through our contact form.