Surrogacy has become an increasingly popular option for many families in the UK, offering a pathway to parenthood for those facing fertility challenges. However, understanding the costs, legalities, and overall process can be overwhelming. Let’s shed light on these aspects to help you navigate the journey with confidence and clarity.
Surrogacy in the UK is legal, but it operates under a complex framework designed to protect both intended parents and a surrogate. The key legislation governing surrogacy in the UK is the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 and the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act 2008. Here are some critical points to remember when considering the UK for surrogacy:
Parental Orders
To become the legal parents of the child, the intended parents must apply for a parental order within six months of the child's birth, and the surrogate must give her full, unconditional consent.
Intended Parents Eligibility
Intended parents must be over 18, married, in a civil partnership, or living as partners. Single parents can also apply for a parental order following recent legal reforms.
Agreements
You are not obligated to sign surrogacy agreements in the UK, but they are vital in outlining the expectations and responsibilities of both the surrogate and the intended parents.
The cost of surrogacy in the UK can vary significantly depending on the circumstances and the services required. Let’s look at a breakdown of typical expenses:
Agency Fees
These can range from £10,000 to £20,000, including assistance with matching and screening surrogates, providing legal support, and managing the entire process.
Legal Fees
Legal costs for drafting agreements and obtaining a parental order usually range from £3,000 to £5,000.
Medical Expenses
IVF treatments, prenatal care, and delivery can cost between £15,000 and £30,000. This amount can vary based on the number of IVF cycles needed.
Surrogate Expenses
These are reasonable expenses for the surrogate, including medical costs, maternity clothing, travel, and other related expenses, typically totaling between £12,000 and £15,000.
Overall, intended parents in the UK can expect to spend between £40,000 and £60,000 on surrogacy, depending on their specific needs and circumstances.
There’s a thing concerning surrogacy in the United Kingdom that might strike you: it is seen as a criminal misdeed to speak loudly about making a decision to become a surrogate or actively spreading information that you’re trying to find a surrogate mother.
As an outcome, there are only a few surrogate mothers available across the United Kingdom surrogacy agencies and reproductive centers. In most cases, intended parents are in a long queue waiting for their turn to be matched with an experienced surrogate.
More than that, as we disclosed earlier, the surrogate mother cost in the United Kingdom is covert and not so transparent. According to British surrogacy legislation, the so-called surrogate compensation has a special title “reasonable expenses”, meaning the covered payment for surrogate travel tickets, and certain options of prenatal care, as well as during, and after the pregnancy period.
UK surrogacy law equally supports the possibility for LGBT couples to receive a child via surrogacy as it does with heterosexual IPs. For male same-sex IPs, the egg donation procedure will be a good opportunity to have a genetically related baby. But first, 2 partners should decide whose sperm will be used for egg fertilization.
As for the search for surrogate moms, it might be quite a challenge for gay IPs. Nevertheless, it all depends on the choice of a reliable surrogacy agency that will avoid all risky parts of the surrogacy journey for you and ensure your safety and success.
Surrogacy in the United Kingdom has its pros and cons. And every intended parent bears responsibility for his choice of a surrogacy scenario. But if you wish to avoid pitfalls and receive legal and safety guarantees ― don’t hesitate to refer to World Center of Baby and our medical experts will surely prepare for you a tailor-made surrogacy solution in the most suitable country.
