Frequently Asked Questions: for Intended Parents

Patriot Conceptions is a veteran-owned surrogacy agency dedicated to exuding honor, integrity, and selfless service. We have over 15 years of combined experience and helped over 700 families to reach their parental goals. We are committed to providing exceptional services to all surrogates and families.

No worries! We will make the first step as simple as possible. Please book an appointment with our client specialist. We will learn your goals and walk you through the whole surrogacy process in steps. By the end of the first appointment, you will have all the information you need to know to make the right decision.

In gestational surrogacy, the baby is not biological-related to the surrogate. However, in traditional surrogacy, the baby has a biological connection with the person who carries the baby.

In gestational surrogacy, embryos are produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF), which utilizes sperm and eggs from the intended parent and/or sperm/egg donor. The embryo will be transferred to the surrogate after creation.

Because gestational surrogacy has nothing to do with the biological relation to babies, It is relatively easy to authenticate in terms of the law. You may prefer gestational surrogacy if you do not want a biological connection between the surrogate and your baby.

Gestational surrogacy can be a perfect option for your parental plan. We are a single parent and LGBT-friendly agency and would love to work with you to help build your family. We also have ample resources regarding the selection of sperm/egg donors.

The surrogacy process can take anywhere from 12 months to 18 months for the majority of intended parents, depending on each case and the location of your surrogate.

Please see our surrogate cost page.

In the United States, surrogacy is considered legal, except for the following states:

-Michigan

-New York

Please note that in surrogate-friendly countries, the policy regarding when surrogacy is allowed may still vary from state to state.

We are headquartered in California which is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states and has many advantages toward selecting surrogates and the entire process.

During the first appointment, we will explain everything you need to know/prepare for starting the surrogacy.

Since we have 15 years of combined experience, many potential surrogate mothers and egg donors are referred to us by current or former surrogates or donors who have had positive experiences in working with our agency. We are also widely recruiting surrogate applicants on our website, online forums, social media, and other outreach efforts.

We are vigilant about monitoring and responding to all contacts we receive to determine their eligibility to become surrogates or egg donors to ensure a robust pool of prescreened, qualified candidates. We are proud to strictly follow the surrogate screening process.

Qualified surrogates or egg donors must be mentally and physically healthy. Surrogates must already have given birth to at least one child of her own with no major complications during pregnancy and delivery.

To qualify, surrogates and egg donors may not use illegal drugs or tobacco for a period of time and must meet many health and emotional wellness standards. Please see our surrogate screening process for more details.

Qualified candidates also are asked to confirm their commitment to the surrogacy or egg donation process, expressing responsibility for their decision to participate and confirming they have met our requirements. A comfortable, trusting relationship between intended parent(s) and the surrogate is essential, so we do our best to get that relationship started on the right foot with properly vetted and qualified candidates.

In January 2013, the State of California’s Family Code regarding surrogate arrangements was re-written to include the requirement of a notarized legal contract between the parties. Therefore, the intended parent or parents, surrogate, and surrogate’s husband all must sign the surrogacy agreement and have their signatures legally notarized.

The notarization is performed by a notary public, a person legally empowered to witness and certify the validity of documents and personal identity. In this case, the notary public will certify that you are the individuals signing the signature page of the surrogacy agreement. A valid, current photo identification card or passport will be required of all parties signing the agreement. The State of California implemented this change to ensure legal and parental rights to the child were provided to the proper individuals.

Surrogacy is aimed at couples who are unable to conceive or who have had multiple unsuccessful pregnancies. therefore, the eligibility requirements are quite restrictive. If you meet the eligibility requirements, and you want to help a family have the joy of welcoming and fulfilling the dream of having a baby, this is the right place for you.

Gestational surrogacy is often seen as the preferred option for intended parents because it allows them to have a biological connection to their child, and it may be more legally straightforward than traditional surrogacy (also known as straight surrogacy or partial surrogacy), in which the surrogate provides her own eggs and is therefore genetically related to the child.

In addition to the potential for a biological connection to the child, other potential advantages of gestational surrogacy include:

1. Reduced legal risks: In some jurisdictions, gestational surrogacy may be less legally complex than traditional surrogacy, as the gestational surrogate is not genetically related to the child and therefore may not have any legal rights or obligations with respect to the child.

2. Increased medical options: In gestational surrogacy, it may be possible to use assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create the embryo, which can allow intended parents to use donor eggs or sperm or to use their own eggs or sperm even if they have fertility challenges.

3. Increased flexibility: Gestational surrogacy may offer more flexibility for intended parents, as it allows them to choose the characteristics of the embryo, including the sex of the child and any genetic traits that may be passed on.