Surrogacy in Jacksonville

Choosing a surrogate in Jacksonville is an option for women who have been unsuccessful with first-line fertility treatments, who have had repeated miscarriages or who cannot conceive or carry a child to term.

You can choose to work with a traditional surrogate or a gestational surrogate. Traditional surrogates are inseminated with sperm, which fertilizes their own eggs. This makes the resulting child biologically related to the surrogate. Gestational surrogates are implanted with an embryo. Because the surrogate’s own eggs are not used, the child will not be related to her.

Many couples prefer to work with a fertility clinic or a surrogacy agency to match them with a surrogate, though they also can ask a friend or family member to serve as a surrogate.

Surrogacy Laws in Florida

Many states have unclear laws on surrogacy, but Florida has explicit laws on surrogacy agreements. According to Florida law, both gestational surrogacy agreements and traditional surrogacy agreements are allowed.

Chapter 63 of the Florida Statutes further defines the conditions under which surrogacy agreements are acceptable. Gestational surrogacy agreements must conform to strict rules. The couple must be over the age of 18 and legally married. Called “pre-planned adoption agreements,” traditional surrogacy agreements are connected to state adoption law.

The law also explains what kind of compensation is allowed for the surrogates. Intended parents may pay “reasonable” living, medical, psychological, or psychiatric expenses of the surrogates. They may also offer compensation for inconvenience, discomfort, and medical risk. No further compensation is permissible.

Because Florida law states that couples must be legally married, it appears that gay couples are excluded from Florida law on surrogacy agreements.

Jacksonville Surrogacy Agencies

Surrogacy agencies in Jacksonville match up intended parents with prospective surrogates. Before the surrogacy process can begin, most surrogacy agencies require vigorous psychological and physical screenings for the surrogate. It is a good idea to ask about the screening process, as well as the requirements for the surrogates.

The following surrogacy agency works with intended parents in Jacksonville:

• The Surrogacy SOURCE

If you prefer to work with a fertility clinic instead of a surrogacy agency for your surrogacy needs, there are three Jacksonville fertility clinics that work with surrogates.