Surrogacy is a generous act, helping individuals and couples unable to have their own babies to grow their families. At Southern Surrogacy, we work closely with all involved parties to ensure a successful surrogacy experience. We’ll guide gestational surrogates and intended parents through our screening process, allowing them to match with their ideal candidates. We provide surrogacy services throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, and beyond.
Welcome to Southern Surrogacy in Georgia
Southern Surrogacy is a full-service surrogacy program serving Georgia and other Southern states. Unlike other agencies, we take a personalized approach, preferring face-to-face contact, and working with local communities. For potential surrogates and intended parents alike, we’ll support you throughout the process, from the application stage through the baby’s birth. We’ll answer your questions and help you with any medical or legal challenges.
Gestational Surrogacy, Explained
A gestational surrogate undergoes pregnancy through the advanced medical technique known as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This procedure entails fertilizing either the intended parent’s (IP) egg or a donor egg with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor within a laboratory setting. Subsequently, the developed embryo is carefully transferred to the surrogate’s uterus, marking the beginning of the pregnancy journey. It is important to note that this method contrasts with traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate not only carries the pregnancy but also contributes her own egg to form the embryo. Southern Surrogacy exclusively specializes in gestational surrogacy arrangements, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive approach to the surrogacy process.
The Surrogacy Process in Georgia
Surrogacy Laws in Georgia
In Georgia, there are no statutes or published case laws specifically allowing or prohibiting gestational surrogacy. Despite this, surrogacy in Georgia is an efficient legal process, and the courts have a favorable attitude toward proceedings and arrangements, based on lawyers’ equitable arguments. Any Georgia surrogacy that you pursue with us will be completed legally, efficiently, ethically, and successfully. However, as legal procedures may vary, even among counties, it is vital that surrogates have their own legal counsel in their own state.
The Surrogate Matching Process
Once a candidate has passed our surrogate candidate screening requirements, she’ll next be matched with hopeful intended parents. At Southern Surrogacy, we strive to connect compatible surrogates and IPs to better form strong, comfortable working relationships. We devote time to getting to know clients before introducing them to potential matches. Our process entails surrogates receiving profile letters, including photos and introductory letters, from the IPs. Assuming everyone is comfortable moving forward, we will facilitate the initial contact.
Legal Aspects of Surrogacy
In the states where we operate, gestational surrogacy laws are generally favorable, with no prohibitive statutes or unfavorable case laws. While local legal procedures can vary among states or counties, Southern Surrogacy is operated by a team of highly experienced attorneys, and we’re very familiar with surrogacy laws. We provide referrals to independent legal counsel, ensuring all aspects are handled quickly, safely, and legally. Whether for surrogates or IPs, we’ll ensure you comply with all applicable laws in the state where your baby is born or where the fertility treatments take place.
Medical Procedures in Surrogacy
For a gestational surrogate to become pregnant, she undergoes in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF involves eggs and sperm, provided by either the intended parents or donors, being mixed in a laboratory to create an embryo. Once formed, the embryo transfer occurs, in which it’s implanted into the surrogate’s uterus at the fertility clinic.
Multiple embryo transfers may be required before a surrogate pregnancy is achieved. You’ll be closely monitored throughout, and your Southern Surrogacy case manager is always available to provide support or information.
Birth and Transfer
Before the surrogate gives birth, typically, in a local hospital under the guidance of her obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), certain steps must be taken to transfer the baby to his or her intended parents.In the second trimester, lawyers will help the IPs legally protect their parental rights, so that when the baby is born, their names can be placed on the birth certificate.
The attorney petitions the court for a pre-birth parentage order (PBO), establishing the IPs as the child’s legal parents and confirming that the surrogate has no legal responsibility for the child. This allows the parents to conduct such matters as making medical decisions for their baby and taking them home from the hospital. Doing so also spares the IPs from having to complete a stepparent adoption. To obtain this, the attorney presents such evidence as the surrogacy contract and a statement from the physician who completed the embryo transfer.
Becoming a Surrogate in Georgia
By deciding to become a gestational surrogate, you’re performing a compassionate service, helping individuals and couples in need to grow their families. Beyond this selfless act, you’ll be able to form a unique, strong, lifelong bond with a newly created family, as well as the larger surrogacy community. You’ll also be fairly and generously compensated financially.
However, you should know that you’ll be facing a major commitment. When entering surrogacy, you should take protective measures. One of the most important matters is to ensure you have your own legal counsel in your own state.
Surrogate Requirements in Georgia
To be considered as a surrogate candidate for Southern Surrogacy, know that you’ll have to pass stringent requirements for physical and mental health, and your lifestyle and legal background.
Based on guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), they protect not only your health, but also the baby and intended parents. Our surrogacy requirements include:
- Being at least 21 years old and no more than 45 (as per the ASRM)
- Having a previous healthy pregnancy
- Raising your own child in your home
- Being smoke- and drug-free
- Having a healthy body mass index (BMI)
- Being able to travel for surrogacy appointments
Surrogate Compensation and Pay in Georgia
We recognize that our surrogates are devoting their precious time and health, and provide much-deserved, generous compensation. Our IPs provide three types of surrogate pay, generally totaling $40,000 – $60,000:
- Competitive base compensation
- Supplement payments for additional procedures, discomfort, and lost wages
- Reimbursements for all surrogacy services and any expenses incurred during the surrogacy or pregnancy process
Learn more about compensation for Southern Surrogacy surrogates in Georgia here.
Become a Surrogate in Georgia
To qualify as a surrogate candidate, you must meet some basic qualifications (as provided above). You’ll submit a brief questionnaire, and then a more detailed one involving your social and medical history. Eligible candidates then begin the surrogate screening process, including:
- Providing medical records from previous pregnancies
- Submitting your insurance information
- Attending an in-office meeting
- Complete authorization forms
- Reviewing our gestational surrogacy agreement
- Undergoing a background check
- Having an in-home visit
When you’ve satisfied these screening requirements, you’ll be matched with the intended parents. Once made, you will undergo additional medical and psychological assessments, to evaluate your overall health and your ability to carry a pregnancy to term. The medical screening may include a physical, various laboratory tests, and a sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening.
A certified mental health professional will also perform a psychological consultation and evaluation. Once a physician has confirmed you’ve successfully completed all screenings, you, your independent legal counsel, and the IPs will review and sign the surrogacy agreement. When the contract is fully executed, you’ll begin preparing for the embryo transfer.
Finding a Surrogate in Georgia
We welcome you to the Southern Surrogacy family and look forward to working with you. You’re embarking on a unique, rewarding journey, and we’ll be by your side throughout. As an established surrogacy agency, we offer a wealth of benefits for intended parents.
We specialize in helping intended parents at the local level. Like us, other agencies offer quality service, but we value a personal approach, directly interacting with you and surrogacy candidates. At the start, when you’re searching for an agency, we’ll have a 30-minute phone consultation, allowing you to get to know us and determine if we’re the right fit. We feel this is the best way to ensure that everyone involved is comfortable and supported.
Start Your Surrogacy Journey in Georgia
The gestational surrogacy process is a life-changing act, enabling individuals and couples to realize their dreams of parenthood. Whether you’re considering becoming a carrier, or you’re intended parents, we encourage you to work with a local surrogacy agency. Southern Surrogacy is a full-service surrogacy program that values a personalized approach, working with local communities throughout Georgia and other Southern states. We’ll support our surrogates and intended parents, addressing your questions and concerns, throughout the entire process. Complete our online meeting request form to schedule a free 30-minute consultation here.