intended-parents-seeking-gestational-surrogates
Choosing surrogacy is one of the most meaningful decisions you’ll ever make. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your options or are ready to move forward, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. At Match Nest, we understand that every family-building journey is unique, and we’re committed to providing the education, support, and personalized guidance you need to navigate the process with confidence.
With more than two decades of experience in fertility and third-party reproduction, we’ve helped intended parents through every stage of the surrogacy journey—from finding the right gestational carrier to coordinating with fertility clinics, attorneys, and other trusted professionals. Our goal is to simplify what can feel overwhelming, allowing you to focus on what matters most: growing your family.
Below, you’ll find an overview of what to expect throughout your journey. As you move through each stage, we’ll be by your side, providing expert guidance, clear communication, and compassionate support until the day you welcome your baby home.
Explore costs and what’s included ↓
Already have your own surrogate? Explore Independent Journey Preparation.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Plan your journey with clarity
You deserve to understand the financial commitment before taking your next step. These 2026 planning estimates show our agency fee separately from compensation and other journey expenses.
MATCHNEST AGENCY FEE
See what your agency fee includes ↓
Matching, coordination, and journey management through postpartum support. Third-party fees and surrogate expenses are separate.
SAMPLE FIRST-TIME SINGLETON JOURNEY
$145,000–$167,000
Includes the $45,000 agency fee. This is a sample for one baby, not a guaranteed or all-inclusive price.
Not included in the sample total: IVF, embryo creation and testing, egg donor expenses, clinic screening, fertility medications and embryo-transfer costs, travel, outside monitoring, and newborn insurance.
Singleton journey cost breakdown
| Category | Planning estimate |
|---|---|
| MatchNest agency fee — see what’s included | $45,000 |
| Legal and escrow | $13,000–$15,000 |
| Singleton GC base compensation — see variables | $60,000–$75,000+ |
| Singleton GC benefits and allowances — see details | Approximately $11,000 |
| Insurance and pregnancy-related medical costs | $16,000–$26,000 |
See compensation variables ↓ | See singleton benefits and allowances ↓
How the sample total is calculated: $145,000–$167,000 uses first-time singleton GC base compensation of approximately $60,000 outside California to $70,000 in California. The broader $60,000–$75,000+ compensation range includes experienced carriers; those journeys may exceed the sample total.
Twin journeys: a separate estimate
Twin GC base compensation: $90,000–$110,000
This is the gestational carrier’s base compensation for a twin journey, not the total journey cost and not an amount to add to singleton base compensation. Twins are excluded from the singleton sample total. Benefits, insurance, medical care, travel, and other expenses require a separate, individualized estimate.
Actual costs vary. Final expenses depend on the carrier, state, clinic requirements, legal jurisdiction, insurance, pregnancy course, and written agreements. Lost wages, childcare, bed rest, cesarean delivery, additional procedures, or other contract-based benefits can increase costs. Third-party providers contract with and bill intended parents independently. MatchNest will provide a journey-specific estimate once a carrier is selected and professional reviews are completed.
Why gestational carrier compensation varies
Our singleton planning range is $60,000–$75,000+. A carrier’s individual circumstances and agreed compensation matter alongside geography.
- Previous surrogacy experience: first-time and experienced carriers can have different base compensation. Our 2026 estimate lists experienced carriers at approximately $65,000–$75,000+.
- Location: the first-time examples in our estimate are approximately $60,000 outside California and $70,000 in California. These are planning examples, not fixed rates for every state or every carrier; an individual Midwest match is quoted separately.
- Singleton or twins: the singleton range assumes one baby. Twin base compensation is estimated separately at $90,000–$110,000 and requires a separate overall journey budget.
- Individual agreement: the carrier’s written agreement specifies base compensation, payment milestones, allowances, and any additional benefits. Additional benefits and reimbursements should be budgeted separately from base compensation.
Other factors change the total budget: clinic requirements, insurance coverage, legal jurisdiction, travel, lost wages, childcare, and pregnancy-related circumstances can affect total expenses even when base compensation stays the same.
What the singleton benefits and allowances cover
The approximately $11,000 in our sample budget is a planning allowance for benefits in addition to the carrier’s base compensation. The source estimate identifies these categories:
- Monthly allowance: recurring allowance payments described in the carrier agreement.
- Medication-start milestone: a payment associated with starting the medication stage, as agreed.
- Embryo-transfer milestone: a carrier payment associated with the transfer stage; this is separate from the clinic’s embryo-transfer charges.
- Positive hCG milestone: a payment associated with a positive pregnancy blood test, under the agreement’s terms.
- Maternity clothing: the agreed clothing allowance.
The exact amounts, eligibility, timing, and number of payments are set out in the individual carrier agreement. The approximately $11,000 is an estimate, not a fixed package or a cap on all benefits. A written itemized schedule should be reviewed before you commit to a journey.
Lost wages, childcare, housekeeping or bed-rest support, cesarean delivery, additional procedures, pregnancy loss, or other agreed benefits may create additional costs. Travel, medical expenses, and insurance also require separate budgeting where applicable. Twin journeys require an individualized benefits estimate.
What your $45,000 agency fee includes
The agency fee pays for MatchNest’s matching, coordination, and journey-management services. It is separate from the compensation paid to your gestational carrier and the fees charged by independent professionals.
- 1. Carrier outreach and initial qualification
- Candidate outreach and initial qualification to help identify potential gestational carriers for your journey.
- 2. Records collection and profile development
- Collecting carrier medical records and developing profiles for review during the matching process.
- 3. Matching and match-meeting support
- Helping you explore potential matches and facilitating a match meeting so intended parents and the carrier can discuss expectations and compatibility.
- 4. Clinic and psychological evaluation coordination
- Coordinating with your IVF clinic and the professionals involved in psychological evaluation. Clinical screening, evaluations, medical decisions, treatment, and provider fees remain with independent professionals.
- 5. Legal, escrow, and insurance coordination
- Coordinating with independent attorneys, escrow administrators, and insurance professionals as your journey moves through preparation. Their representation, administration, advice, premiums, and other charges are separate expenses.
- 6. Journey management through postpartum
- Ongoing journey coordination and communication through pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum support period described in your agency agreement.
What is paid separately?
- Carrier compensation and benefits: base compensation, allowances, reimbursements, and additional benefits required by the carrier agreement.
- Independent legal and escrow services: intended-parent and carrier attorneys, contracts, parentage work, court fees, and escrow or trust administration.
- Fertility treatment and provider services: IVF, embryo creation and testing, donor expenses, clinic screening, psychological evaluations, fertility medications, embryo transfer, and outside monitoring.
- Insurance and medical expenses: insurance reviews and premiums, life insurance, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, pregnancy and delivery expenses, and newborn coverage.
- Travel and journey-specific expenses: travel, accommodation, lost wages, childcare, bed rest, procedures, and other applicable contract-based expenses.
Some separate expenses are represented in the singleton planning table; others are explicitly excluded from the sample total. The agency fee is not an all-inclusive journey price.
Understand your agreement before enrolling
Your written agency agreement specifies the scope of services, payment milestones, postpartum support period, and any cancellation, refund, or rematching terms. We will review those terms with you before enrollment; this page does not promise unlimited rematches, refunds, a particular matching time, pregnancy, or a live birth.
Your journey, step by step
- Complimentary consultation. Discuss your goals, questions, embryo readiness, timing, and budget.
- Personalized planning. Review your agreement, complete onboarding, and build a journey plan.
- Thoughtful matching. Review a potential carrier profile, understand completed and pending screening, and meet to explore compatibility.
- Medical and legal preparation. Coordinate clinic clearance, psychological evaluation, insurance, independent attorneys, and escrow.
- Embryo transfer and pregnancy. Receive ongoing communication and journey coordination.
- Welcoming your baby. Prepare for delivery and receive support through the postpartum transition.
Timing varies with matching, embryo readiness, medical clearance, and individual circumstances.
A thoughtful match, built around your family
We consider medical and pregnancy history, clinic requirements, location, communication preferences, and expectations for the journey. You’ll have the opportunity to review a profile, ask questions, and take part in a match meeting. Reviewing a profile is an opportunity to explore compatibility, not a commitment to proceed.
Already have embryos? We can discuss your clinic’s requirements and your next steps toward finding a carrier. If you are still choosing a clinic or creating embryos, we can help coordinate the next stage of planning.
Experienced guidance, personal connection
Founder and CEO Deanne Molina brings more than 23 years of surrogacy-industry experience, including medical coordination, agency operations, surrogate support, and intended-parent advocacy. Her mission is to offer compassionate, transparent, and personalized guidance to the families who trust MatchNest.
From a MatchNest family
“Using Deanne took a TON of stress and anxiety off our shoulders, and we chose the surrogate we thought would be perfect for us.”
— Anonymous intended parent, MatchNest family testimonial
Each family’s experience is individual; a testimonial does not guarantee a particular outcome.
Surrogacy FAQs
We work with individuals and couples from many backgrounds, including married couples, unmarried partners, single parents by choice, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Every journey is unique, and we’re here to help you determine the best path forward.
While every journey is different, most intended parents can expect the process to take approximately 12–18 months from the time they begin until welcoming their baby. Factors such as surrogate availability, medical timelines, and legal requirements can influence the overall timeline.
Every surrogate candidate completes a thorough qualification process that includes medical record review, background screening, financial verification, pregnancy history evaluation, and an extensive personal interview before being presented to intended parents.
Yes. We believe a successful journey begins with the right match. You’ll have the opportunity to review your surrogate’s profile, ask questions, and participate in a match meeting before making any decisions.
While we carefully match intended parents and surrogates based on shared goals, personalities, and expectations, we understand that circumstances can change. If a match ends before legal contracts are completed or medical clearance is obtained, we’ll work closely with you to find another qualified surrogate according to the terms of your agreement.
If you’re already working with a fertility clinic, we’ll coordinate directly with your medical team throughout the process. If you haven’t selected a clinic yet, we’re happy to connect you with trusted fertility specialists based on your needs and location.
Absolutely. Every relationship is unique, but most intended parents enjoy regular communication with their surrogate throughout the pregnancy, including updates, appointments when possible, and shared milestones. We’ll help establish expectations early so everyone feels comfortable and supported.
The total investment varies depending on your specific journey, including medical treatment, legal services, insurance, escrow management, surrogate compensation, and agency services. We’ll provide a detailed cost estimate and walk you through each expense so you know exactly what to expect.
Match Nest was founded on experience, transparency, and personalized support. With more than 20 years in fertility care and firsthand experience as a former gestational surrogate, our founder understands both the clinical and emotional aspects of the journey. We intentionally work with a limited number of families so every intended parent receives attentive, individualized guidance from start to finish.
The first step is scheduling a consultation with our team. We’ll learn about your family-building goals, answer your questions, explain the process, and help determine whether surrogacy is the right path for you.
Ready to take the first step?
Schedule your complimentary consultation today, and let’s begin building your family together.