Surrogacy By State

Maine Surrogacy Requirements


Key Points:

  • Becoming a surrogate is a great way to improve your and your family’s life.
  • There are certain surrogate requirements in Maine that you must meet in order to be a surrogate.
  • Surrogate qualifications will vary depending on the professional you choose to work with.

Giving the gift of a child to someone who’s been longing to be a parent is an incomparable experience, and becoming a surrogate in Maine is the way to have that impact in others’ lives. In order to do that, you’ll first need to meet certain surrogate mother requirements. Maine has a number of criteria that a woman must meet in order to be eligible for this process, and in addition to those state-mandated requirements, you’ll need to meet the surrogacy requirements of your individual surrogacy professional, which can vary.

Find out if you qualify

The following guide will help you better understand the state-set requirements for surrogates in Maine as well as the common requirements for surrogacy in ME that surrogacy professionals usually have for surrogates.

“Is There an Age Limit to Being a Surrogate in ME?”

Yes. You’re not alone in wondering about the age restrictions for surrogacy in Maine. One of the most frequently asked questions about surrogacy requirements in Maine is, “How old do you have to be to be a surrogate mother in Maine?”

The Maine Parentage Act of 2016 regulates all the eligibility requirements for both potential surrogates and intended parents, and states that in order to become a surrogate in this state you must “be at least 21 years of age.”

While this is the legally required minimum age to be a surrogate in ME, all surrogacy professionals will have also have a maximum age limit. This is because pregnancy and surrogacy always involve some physical risk, but that risk is lower for women within a specific age range, whose bodies are best able to adapt to the extreme changes of pregnancy.

The age requirement for surrogates in Maine can vary somewhat between professionals, but is usually up to 40 years old.

DID YOU KNOW?

Surrogates in Maine can earn an average of $50,000 -$90,000 for the time, energy and physical demands that comes with the surrogacy process.

“What are the Health Requirements to Be a Surrogate Mother in ME?”

Women often worry that a specific health concern will prevent them from meeting the surrogate health requirements in ME. They have questions like, “Can I become a surrogate if I had complications with a past pregnancy?” “Is surrogacy without previous pregnancy possible?” “Is there a weight requirement to be a surrogate in Maine?” “Is surrogacy after tubal ligation ok?”

The surrogate health requirements in Maine state that to be a surrogate, a woman must:

  • Have previously given birth to at least one child
  • Have completed a medical evaluation

In addition to those requirements, your surrogacy professional will usually ask that you:

  • Have never had any major complications with your past births or pregnancies
  • Have had no more than five births vaginally or three births by cesarean
  • Be smoke- and drug-free, including second-hand smoke
  • Have a BMI within about 19-33 (calculate your BMI here)

The health requirements to be a surrogate mother in Maine (and in every state) are important not only for your health and safety, but for that of the baby. If you meet the above health criteria to be a surrogate in Maine, you’ll proceed to a series of medical evaluations that are designed to make sure you’re physically capable of completing the various medical processes of surrogacy. Your medical evaluation usually includes blood and urine tests, physicals, transvaginal ultrasounds and more.

You can learn more about the additional health requirements to be a surrogate mother in Maine and whether or not your health condition may affect your ability to become a surrogate here.

“What are the Psychological Requirements to Be a Surrogate Mother in Maine?”

Physical health isn’t the only thing taken into consideration when evaluating a potential candidate for surrogacy. You’ll need to meet a few mental and emotional criteria for surrogacy in Maine. Women often ask, “Can anyone be a surrogate mother in Maine?” “Are there any mental health requirements for surrogacy?”

The state of Maine requires that surrogates:

  • Have completed a mental health consultation

Pregnancy is always a mentally and emotionally heightened time, and the experience of surrogacy can add to that. Preparing for and talking about the emotional process is one of the ideal qualifications for being a surrogate in Maine.

Most professionals will prefer that, as a requirement for surrogacy in Maine, you have a solid emotional support system, including an encouraging spouse or partner and at least one child you’re raising at home.

“Are There Any Other Requirements for Surrogacy in Maine?”

Yes. There are additional requirements for surrogates in Maine that are established in the Maine Parentage Act as well as by individual professionals. Some questions that women often ask about the additional surrogacy requirements include, “Who can be a surrogate?” “Will I need to have a car?” “If I receive state welfare, am I eligible to be a surrogate mother in Maine?”

Maine legislation requires that a surrogate:

  • Has had independent legal representation of her own choosing and paid for by the intended parent or parents regarding the terms of the gestational carrier agreement and have been advised of the potential legal consequences of the gestational carrier agreement
  • Not have contributed gametes that will ultimately result in an embryo that she will attempt to carry to term, unless the gestational carrier is entering into an agreement with a family member

In addition to those requirements, individual professionals often have additional criteria for the surrogates they will work with. The surrogate qualifications that a professional will require of you can vary, but usually include that you:

  • Be a permanent resident of the U.S.
  • Speak fluent English
  • Complete a background check
  • Not be receiving any financial assistance from the government
  • Can commit to up to one year’s worth of surrogacy- and pregnancy-related appointments
  • Have your spouse’s commitment to your surrogacy decision, for legal purpose (if you’re married)

If you meet those surrogate qualifications, Maine families can benefit from your willingness to help! You have the amazing ability to turn people into parents.

Not sure if you meet the qualifications for being a surrogate in ME? Contact us today for more information or if you’re ready to become a surrogate mother in Maine.

Male and Female couple smiling with surrogate mother
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