A Guide to Surrogacy in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a wonderful state for surrogacy! Surrogacy is legal in Pennsylvania and Brownstone Surrogacy is proud to work with surrogates in Pennsylvania, intended parents in Pennsylvania, and some of the Keystone State’s best fertility clinics.
From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, Allentown to Reading, Erie to Scranton, to become a surrogate in Pennsylvania you should start by reading this guide! Learn more about the surrogacy process in Pennsylvania and then take our short quiz to find out if you qualify.
How to Become a Surrogate in Pennsylvania
The surrogacy process looks different for each surrogate and each set of intended parents based on their preferences and goals and on the state in which they live. But there are a few common steps to becoming a surrogate in Pennsylvania:
Step 1: Make Sure You Meet the Requirements to Become a Surrogate in Pennsylvania
To be a surrogate in Pennsylvania, you should:
- Be between 21 and 43 years old
- Have a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 32
- Have a history of full-term, uncomplicated pregnancies
- Have had no more than 5 deliveries or 3 c-sections
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident living in Pennsylvania
- Not smoke or vape or have a history of drug or alcohol abuse
- Not be treated for or on medication for serious depression or anxiety or another psychological disorder
- Be financially stable and not receiving government cash assistance
If you want to know more about whether you would qualify to be a surrogate in Pennsylvania, take our short quiz or contact us.
Step 2: Educate Yourself about Being a Surrogate in Pennsylvania
Surrogacy is not a quick and easy process, but it will be one of the most rewarding things you do in your life. There are countless parents (including many Pennsylvanians) who turn to surrogates each year to build their families because of repeated pregnancy losses, devastating cancer diagnoses, or an inability to have a biological family any other way (i.e., same-sex male couples).
It’s important to understand exactly what to expect from the surrogacy process in Pennsylvania, from screening to matching to contracts to pregnancy. You can read more about each step here. If you have specific questions that are not answered on our extensive FAQ page, please reach out to us. An experienced surrogate on our team will clarify things and walk you through the process.
Step 3: Choose a Licensed Surrogacy Agency Near Pennsylvania
Surrogates in Pennsylvania – from Lower Merion to Upper Darby, Harrisburg to Haverford, Bensalem to Bethlehem – should work with a reputable surrogacy agency. Brownstone Surrogacy is one of only a handful of surrogacy agencies nationwide licensed by the government, so you have the peace of mind knowing that we operate according to the highest ethics and standards.
We can match you with intended parents in Pennsylvania and provide truly local support. We know the fertility clinics, doctors, and mental health professionals local to Pennsylvania and the surrogacy lawyers with deep expertise in the state’s laws. Your agency should empower you – not make decisions for you. At Brownstone, we are your trusted advocates and we practice surrogacy the right way.
Step 4: Choose an Experienced Pennsylvania Surrogacy Lawyer
Once you are matched with intended parents, you will need to select an experienced surrogacy lawyer to form a contract. Our attorney-led agency stands ready to refer you to the best surrogacy lawyers in the Keystone State.
At Brownstone, we are attuned to the details of Pennsylvania laws and make sure you know your rights. While Pennsylvania has no specific statutes concerning surrogacy agreements, the courts enforce surrogacy contracts and issue pre-birth parentage orders regularly. That means that Pennsylvania is “surrogacy friendly” and a great place to build families together. Results may vary by county, which is why finding the right agency and lawyer to guide you is so crucial.
With the right surrogacy agency and surrogacy lawyer in your corner, you’ll always have folks that are advocating for you.
How Much Do Surrogates Get Paid in Pennsylvania?
As a surrogate in Pennsylvania, you have the opportunity to earn at least $50,000 and up to $70,000 or more.
Surrogates help determine compensation and benefits, but here is what is typical:
- Base compensation: $45,000 – $55,000+
- Monthly expense allowance: $3,900 ($300 per month for an average of 13 months)
- Automatic bonuses and fees: Over $4,000
- Potential compensation: Variable
- Guaranteed support:
- Life insurance with $750,000 coverage for your beneficiaries
- An attorney of your choice
- At least $1,000 in mental health support
- All travel expenses paid for you and a companion
- Independent escrow management to ensure your compensation, reimbursements, and medical expenses are paid in full and on time
- 24/7 support from our dedicated team
Learn more on our compensation page.
Why Choose Brownstone to Support Your Surrogacy Journey in New York
Surrogacy is personal for us. Our founder Jarret and his husband became fathers to two girls through surrogacy and Yesenia, our Director of Surrogate Services, is an experienced gestational surrogate. Our passion for surrogacy goes even deeper than our own experiences: The Brownstone team is dedicated to ensuring that families have a personal experience. We get to know you and your family, your story, and your goals and hopes for this surrogacy journey. You’ll have our cell phone numbers and our promise to provide true support every step of the way.
Especially for Pennsylvania surrogates, it’s helpful to have a surrogacy agency located nearby. We’re attuned to Pennsylvania laws and to the many providers in Pennsylvania. But even more important when it comes to matching, the vast majority of our intended parents are based in the Northeast with a large contingent here in Pennsylvania. So if you are hoping to match with an individual or couple (whether LGBTQ+ or not) who is not too far from where you live, we’d love to try and make that happen.
A Guide to Surrogacy Laws in Pennsylvania
While Pennsylvania has no statutes dedicated to surrogacy, the 2006 Pennsylvania Superior Court case J.F. v. D.B. made clear that gestational surrogacy contracts were valid and enforceable. Since then, Pennsylvania has been a regular location for surrogacy arrangements.
While the application of surrogacy law can vary by county and by judge, pre-birth parentage orders have been issued in more than 30 counties in Pennsylvania. Intended parents may receive a pre-birth order from Pennsylvania courts regardless of whether they are married or unmarried, heterosexual or same-sex, using an egg or sperm donor or not. This means that the intended parents’ names go on the birth certificate.
Pennsylvania law is great for gestational surrogacy!
What Does Surrogacy Cost in Pennsylvania?
The total estimated cost of a surrogacy journey in Pennsylvania is around $130,000 though it can fluctuate.
Expected costs of the surrogacy process:
- Surrogate compensation (base and automatic): $50,000 – $65,000+
- Surrogate compensation (variable): $1,000 – $20,000+
- Agency fee: $30,000
- Attorneys’ fees: $10,000
- Insurance fees and out-of-pocket medical expenses: $6,000 – $30,000+
- Escrow, travel, and other miscellaneous expenses: $3,000 – $10,000
- Total Average Cost of Surrogacy: $110,000 – $170,000 (excluding fertility clinic expenses)
Brownstone’s all-inclusive agency fee covers:
- Management of your entire journey, from start to finish
- All costs of surrogate recruitment and screening
- All costs of intended parent screening
- Coordination of the embryo creation process, as needed
- Coordination of unlimited IVF or transfer cycles
- Free rematch services if your surrogate is disqualified or has three unsuccessful transfers
- Personal, knowledgeable, and compassionate support
How To Find a Surrogate in Pennsylvania
If you are an intended parent looking for a surrogate in Pennsylvania, Brownstone Surrogacy can help. We proudly work with the many excellent fertility clinics throughout the State of Pennsylvania, including Main Line Fertility, RMA of Philadelphia, Shady Grove Fertility, Penn Fertility, Geisinger, UPMC, and other nearby clinics in New Jersey and New York. As one of the few local agencies, we have an enhanced ability to support intended parents and surrogates.
Find Out More about the Process for Surrogates
Ready To Get Started?
Brownstone Surrogacy is licensed as a surrogacy matching program by the New York State Department of Health. Our license number is GS221023. We are proud to be among the few agencies licensed by a governmental regulator.
“Gestation is a marvel, no matter how it is accomplished. But gestation isn’t the real magic. Love is the magic. Love is the only magic.” – Early: An Intimate History of Premature Birth and What It Teaches Us About Being Human by Sarah DiGregorio