Are you dreaming of becoming a parent and worried that it will never happen because the country you live in doesn’t allow surrogacy as an option for gay or single parents?

It’s okay – you CAN still start a family! Surrogacy agencies such as Family Source Consultants work with Intended Parents from around the world. Over half of our parents are same-sex couples or LGBTQ+ individuals. And we’ve made dreams come true for intended parents in Asia, the UK, Europe, South America, and many countries in between.

  • Intended parents’ home location is less important than the surrogates location. Surrogate location is crucial due to laws varying state to state and country to country.
  • Some countries allow altruistic surrogacy, and some have banned all forms.
  • The United States has surrogacy friendly states that do not discriminate against who can become Intended Parent/s and have supportive legal frameworks.
  • Many agencies have an international programs that provide language assistance and other guidance.
  • Working with a reputable agency ensures protection and guidance during your surrogacy journey.

Location and Surrogacy: When it Matters (and When it Doesn’t)

Location is one of the most important and confusing aspects of third-party reproduction, especially as laws differ widely from one country to another. For example:

UK, Ireland, Denmark, and Belgium: Only non-commercial (altruistic) surrogacy is allowed. This means surrogates cannot be compensated for the pregnancy.

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Bulgaria: All forms of surrogacy are banned.

Countries that allow surrogacy: Greece, Russia, and Ukraine are among the few countries that have clear, detailed laws permitting and regulating surrogacy arrangements. But every year, more and more countries are accepting third-party reproduction as a family-building option. Israel recently ruled that it would lift current legal restrictions barring same-sex couples from becoming parents through surrogacy.

So, the good news is that you don’t have to use a surrogate within your own country! Since the U.S. not only allows surrogacy but welcome it. It often draws international parents who cannot undergo third-party reproduction in their own locations.

Surrogacy in the U.S.

When pursuing surrogacy in the United States, what matters is that the laws are favorable in the state in which the surrogate lives. In other words, it doesn’t matter where YOU live, but where your surrogate lives.

“Surrogacy-friendly” states do not discriminate against who can become Intended Parent/s. Pre-birth orders will generally be granted regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. Both compensated and uncompensated agreements are possible.

Some “Surrogacy-friendly” states include:

  • California (top choice)
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Maine, New Hampshire
  • New York
  • Nevada
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Washington

Of course, surrogacy still isn’t legal in every state. Michigan, Louisiana, and Nebraska are among the states that prohibit compensated surrogacy. The US also doesn’t have any federal laws regulating surrogacy, which means that surrogacy cases can be handled differently from state to state.

Benefits of Working with a U.S. Surrogacy Agency

US surrogacy agencies are accustomed to working with international clients. In fact, most agencies have dedicated international programs that provide language assistance and other guidance. Family Source Consultants specializes in this, our benefits include:

  • Full guidance: Legal, technical, and medical support.
  • Screening process: Surrogates are screened to ensure that they are suitable, committed, and passionate.
  • Multilingual services: Our international team includes a range of coordinators who speak fluently in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, French, and German. We can also cater to other languages by assisting with interpreters.
  • Coordinate meetings: We will help coordinate meetings with your surrogate, both online and face-to-face.
  • Travel and logistics support: When it’s time for your little bundle of joy to arrive, we’ll help you with travel and accommodation bookings so you’re in the right place at the right time.
  • Clear timelines: Our case managers provide a clear and detailed timeline so that both Intended Parents and surrogates know what’s ahead.

Choosing the Right Agency is Crucial

The important part of your surrogacy journey is knowing the rules, and a surrogacy lawyer is the best person to guide you through the legalities. This will ensure protection both for intended parents and prospective surrogates during the process. Don’t worry, FSC is aligned with the best attorneys in the third-party fertility industry and can provide you with a recommendation!

If you’re living outside the US and hoping to start your family through surrogacy, don’t hesitate to reach out! Our friendly team is ready to answer your questions.

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Staci Swiderski, CEO and owner of Family Source Consultants, has been a prominent leader in reproductive medicine for over two decades. Through her strategic vision and dedication, she has developed Family Source Consultants into a globally recognized agency specializing in comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy services. Under Staci’s leadership, the agency has become a trusted partner for intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors worldwide, known for its rigorous standards, compassionate support, and commitment to excellence in third-party reproduction.

Her professional insight is uniquely informed by her own family-building experiences. As an intended parent, Staci welcomed her son via gestational surrogacy in 2005, and as a known egg donor, she assisted an infertile couple in expanding their family. These experiences lend a rare depth to her leadership and have fueled her ongoing dedication to ethical, empathetic, and professional support within the field of reproductive medicine.