Beginning the surrogacy process in Colorado isn’t easy, but it can be a beautiful and life-changing experience for everyone involved.
As surrogacy has a major learning curve, this guide can help you better understand what surrogacy in Colorado is like and how to get started, as well as decide if surrogacy is right for you.
If you have questions or want more free information about surrogacy in Colorado, you can always contact a surrogacy professional.
What is Surrogacy in Colorado?
Every surrogacy journey is different, but there are several common steps you’ll go through, whether you’re an intended parent or a prospective surrogate mother. Here’s what you can expect:
Step 1: Decide if surrogacy is right for you. Gestational surrogacy can be a rewarding experience, and it could be right for you. The surrogacy process in Colorado requires a great deal of time and energy, and you should be 100% confident in your decision before you get started.
If you:
- Dream of starting or growing your family
- Want to help someone else start their family while being fairly compensated for your services
Then surrogacy in Colorado could be a great option for you.
Step 2: Choose a surrogacy professional and create a surrogacy plan. When you work with a surrogacy agency, you’ll have guidance and experience through every step of the journey.
They will help you create a plan for your Colorado surrogacy, which will detail your preferences on things like:
- What kind of surrogate or intended parent you’d like to work with
- Your expected timeline
- Your budget or desired compensation rate
- Whether you prefer an in-state or interstate surrogacy match
- And more
Step 3: Complete your pre-surrogacy screening. Before you can find the surrogate or intended parents for your surrogacy journey, there are some important pre-surrogacy requirements you must meet first. These include medical and psychological screenings to confirm you are mentally, physically, and emotionally ready to move forward with your Colorado surrogacy process.
Screening might sound intimidating, but don’t worry. Your surrogacy specialist is here to support you and guide to success.
Step 4: Find an intended parent or gestational carrier. The preferences you have are usually determined in your surrogacy plan, but you can choose characteristics like:
- Where they live
- What kind of relationship they are comfortable with
- Their medical history
- And more
When you find a prospective match who shows mutual interest, your surrogacy agency can help set up an introductory meeting. This gives you the chance to ask questions and get to know them before you fully commit to the partnership. Surrogacy is collaborative effort, so it’s important that you feel comfortable with the surrogate or intended parents you’ll be working with.
Step 5: Create a surrogacy contract. Even if you have a great relationship with your surrogacy match, you must always finalize it with a legal surrogacy contract before anything else can happen.
You and your surrogacy match will work with separate surrogacy attorneys through your surrogacy agency. They will help you create a legal contract that protects your rights and addresses details such as:
- Risks and liabilities
- Surrogate compensation
- Responsibilities and expectations
- And more
Step 6: Complete the surrogacy medical process. The intended parents’ fertility clinic will prescribe certain fertility medications the prospective surrogate will need to take to prepare her for the embryo transfer and pregnancy.. Once she has completed the necessary fertility treatments, she will be ready for the embryo transfer.
A surrogate’s medical costs are all covered by the intended parents. She will also get to choose the hospital where she will deliver, and she will work with the intended parents to come up with a delivery plan that meets everyone’s preferences.
Step 7: Finalize your surrogacy process in Colorado. Your surrogacy specialist and your attorney will stay in contact with you during delivery and before discharge to complete any necessary legal steps and additional documentation. At this point, the surrogate will also receive her final compensation payment.
Colorado Surrogacy Agencies [What Are They and What Do They Do?]
Surrogacy agencies in Colorado are “one-stop shops” for surrogacy. When you work with a surrogacy agency, you’ll work closely with a surrogacy professional whose knowledge and support will help guide you through every step of the surrogacy process.
Surrogacy agencies offer a wide range of services, including:
- Medical and psychological screening
- Emotional support
- Contact mediation with intended parents
- Referrals to trusted surrogacy attorneys and fertility clinics
- And more
Surrogacy is a complex process, with many legal, medical and emotional aspects. Intended parents and surrogates who choose to complete an independent surrogacy are responsible for coordinating all information and communication necessary to make the process happen.
Surrogacy agencies exist to get all of that done for you. That way, instead of focusing on paperwork, legalities, and medical information, you can be confident that your surrogacy process is being completed correctly.
You can learn more about the Colorado surrogacy process from any of these surrogacy agencies:
How to Become a Surrogate in Colorado
Becoming a surrogate mother in Colorado is an amazing opportunity. The most important step you can take toward becoming a surrogate is to speak with a surrogacy professional to discuss your surrogacy goals.
Every surrogacy journey is unique, and an experienced surrogacy professional can give you an accurate idea of what the process will be like through their surrogacy program. Once you have determined your surrogacy goals and preferences, your surrogacy professional will help you create a surrogacy plan that will help ensure your goals are met.
With the help of your surrogacy agency, you can officially start the practical process of surrogacy, which includes:
- Finding intended parents
- Completing a legal contract
- Undergoing the medical process
- Pregnancy and delivery
Colorado Surrogate Compensation [How Much Do Surrogates Get Paid?]
The average base pay for surrogacy is $45,000 for first-time surrogates, and you will be paid in monthly installments throughout the surrogacy process. Experienced surrogates and surrogates in certain states can earn even more — up to $75,000. All of your expenses will be covered by the intended parents – everything from medical costs to your legal expenses.
There are no Colorado surrogacy laws governing base compensation for surrogates, so compensated surrogacy is accepted. The amount of compensation surrogates receive depends on several factors:
- The policies of the surrogacy agency, if you’re working with one
- The intended parents’ budget
- Your own experience with surrogacy
Although there are no laws on surrogacy in Colorado dictating compensation, this is something you’ll want to discuss with your surrogacy partner and surrogacy attorney when establishing your contracts.
Start Your Surrogacy Journey in Colorado Today
Every surrogacy journey is unique and rewarding. To help you get a better idea of what your experience may be like, we encourage you to reach out to a surrogacy specialist. We will be ready to help when you are ready to start your surrogacy in Colorado!