Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: Hi. I am wondering about the cost for surrogacy fees. I have noticed that surrogates get very little in compensation. Why is this? My wife and I are considering becoming surrogate parents and it seems a little unfair to me that the attorneys, the clinics and the agencies make more then the surrogates. Why is that and is that to be expected? One clinic said the average surrogate receives 10,000, but that does not seem like enough. This concerns me. Why are the intended parents willing to pay so much to everyone except the surrogate???

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Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A

Q & A: Financial Issues - Surrogacy

Topics may include compensation, covered expenses, overall costs, etc.

16. Hi. I am wondering about the cost for surrogacy fees. I have noticed that surrogates get very little in compensation. Why is this? My wife and I are considering becoming surrogate parents and it seems a little unfair to me that the attorneys, the clinics and the agencies make more then the surrogates. Why is that and is that to be expected? One clinic said the average surrogate receives 10,000, but that does not seem like enough. This concerns me. Why are the intended parents willing to pay so much to everyone except the surrogate??? - David in Maine - Top

David,

The average surrogacy fee is 10,000 to 18,000 depending on the area, whether she is from and whether she has been a surrogate before. My legal fees were about $4,000. We have an independent arrangement since I could not afford to pay an agency as well as the other expenses. I also didn't feel an agency could add any value to the relationship. Perhaps you don't realize that the surrogate's fee is above and beyond any expenses -- medical, travel and mileage, lost wages, child care and housekeeping if on medical bedrest, etc.

As an intended parent, I feel that there is no price I can place on the gift our surrogate has given us. But, practically, we can only afford so much. I thank God every day for the compassionate women out there who are willing to give so much of themselves. They are truly angels walking this earth. Without them we would never have had a biological family.

Linda P - Updated: February 13, 2000
Topics may include compensation, covered expenses, overall costs, etc.

16. Hi. I am wondering about the cost for surrogacy fees. I have noticed that surrogates get very little in compensation. Why is this? My wife and I are considering becoming surrogate parents and it seems a little unfair to me that the attorneys, the clinics and the agencies make more then the surrogates. Why is that and is that to be expected? One clinic said the average surrogate receives 10,000, but that does not seem like enough. This concerns me. Why are the intended parents willing to pay so much to everyone except the surrogate??? - David in Maine - Top: David,

The average surrogacy fee is 10,000 to 18,000 depending on the area, whether she is from and whether she has been a surrogate before. My legal fees were about $4,000. We have an independent arrangement since I could not afford to pay an agency as well as the other expenses. I also didn't feel an agency could add any value to the relationship. Perhaps you don't realize that the surrogate's fee is above and beyond any expenses -- medical, travel and mileage, lost wages, child care and housekeeping if on medical bedrest, etc.

As an intended parent, I feel that there is no price I can place on the gift our surrogate has given us. But, practically, we can only afford so much. I thank God every day for the compassionate women out there who are willing to give so much of themselves. They are truly angels walking this earth. Without them we would never have had a biological family.

Linda P - Updated: February 13, 2000

Unless stated otherwise, all responses in the SMO Q&A are courtesy of one or more of the following hosts:

Sherry - Experienced gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement

Linda - New Mommy to twins born via gestational surrogacy and egg donation

Jennifer S. - Experienced AI surrogate

Lynn - New Mommy to a daughter born via traditional surrogacy

Tracie - 5 time egg donor (triplets, 2 sets of twins and 2 singletons) and 3 time surrogate (2-AI, 1-IVF).

Lisa - Experienced egg donor and previous gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement (Lisa was our former ED host, prior to July 1999.)
Disclaimer: Responses from SMO Q&A Hosts do not necessarily represent the opinions and ideas of SMO. Neither the Q&A hosts nor SMO guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the responses given here. As such, neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts are responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly by the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in these responses.

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