A clear-eyed budget begins by mapping every bill that can appear across a 12 to 24–month journey. Start with compensation for the gestational carrier: base pay, reimbursements for maternity clothes, and add-ons for invasive procedures or carrying multiples. Medical care follows—IVF cycles, medications, monitoring visits, delivery charges, and possible NICU bills if complications arise.
Legal costs sit in their own column. You’ll need one attorney for the intended parents and another for the carrier to draft contracts and secure parentage orders.
Agencies charge matching and case-management fees; going independent may trim that line, but you must manage escrow, insurance, and logistics yourself. Health insurance is another wildcard, since many policies exclude surrogate pregnancies and require specialized plans or riders.
To stay ahead of surprises, build a contingency reserve of at least fifteen to twenty percent and decide in advance who authorizes unexpected expenses. Use a dedicated account or spreadsheet to log invoices, due dates, and reimbursements, and ask every vendor for itemized estimates so you always know what a line item covers. Consider financing—medical loans, employer fertility benefits, HSAs, or FSAs—but compare interest, fees, and tax treatment before you sign.
Clear communication keeps money from overshadowing the emotion of the process. Spell out how receipts are submitted, when reimbursements occur, and what documentation is required. When everyone understands where each surrogacy fee goes, you can focus on the relationships involved and the child you’re working to welcome.
