Single-Parent Surrogacy 101

If you are an individual who has been dreaming of having a baby, but you are single, unable to physically carry a baby, or simply do not want to carry a child, surrogacy could be an excellent option for you.  There are many important details that go into a surrogacy arrangement, and as a single parent, you will more than likely want to handle these details up front so you can devote all of your time and energy to bonding with your baby once they are born.  Below, we explain the different types of surrogacy you will have to choose from and why you need to carefully review your state’s surrogacy laws before you begin the process. 

Choosing Your Surrogacy Plan as a Single Parent

As you prepare to look for a surrogate mother, you will need to decide which type of surrogacy is right for you as a single parent. In a traditional surrogacy arrangement, your surrogate mother will go through artificial insemination using her own egg. For single fathers with viable sperm, this means you may have the opportunity to be biologically related to your baby, while the surrogate mother will also be a genetic parent.  Gestational surrogacy requires in vitro fertilization (IVF), a more complex and expensive process, but it potentially affords single parents of either gender the opportunity to be biologically related to their baby while using donor sperm or eggs for the other piece of the puzzle.  The ability to still be biologically a part of your baby, weighed alongside the substantial cost differences between traditional and gestational surrogacy, are usually some of the most important deciding factors when choosing your surrogacy plan.

Surrogacy Laws for Single Parents

Surrogacy laws in the U.S. are not federal. This means that each state will have their own laws surrounding surrogacy plans and their dynamics. For example, some states, New York for example, explicitly prohibit surrogacy, while others only allow for certain types of surrogacy arrangements.  It is the same way with your marital status. If you live in Arizona, for instance, single parents are not permitted to be listed on the pre-birth order as the rightful parent of the baby. Our team at Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc. can help you understand what to expect from your home state, and we can go over what your options are if you do not live in a single-parent surrogacy–friendly state.

Schedule Your First Surrogacy Appointment for Additional Information

If you are interested in learning more about how your state’s surrogacy laws might influence your ability to become an intended parent through surrogacy or if you have other questions that need to be answered, meet with a staff member at Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc. You can schedule your free consultation by visiting our website or by giving our office a call at 412-884-2229.