Want to learn more about how surrogacy works in Missouri? You’ve come to the right place.
American Surrogacy is an agency experienced with the surrogacy process in Missouri, and we’ve helped many intended parents and gestational carriers achieve their surrogacy dreams in the Show Me State. Don’t let the lack of formal surrogacy laws fool you; the process of surrogacy in Missouri is a safe and possible one — as long as you work with the proper professionals from the beginning to end.
That’s where we come in. Although American Surrogacy is a national surrogacy agency, our headquarters are located in the Kansas City area, just a few minutes away from the state border. Our team is extremely knowledgeable in the gestational surrogacy process in Missouri, and we’re always happy to help you start your surrogacy process whenever you are ready.
But, before you start, you probably have a few questions about how to have a baby through surrogacy in Missouri or how to carry a child for someone else in Missouri. That’s completely normal — and American Surrogacy is here to help.
Below, you can find a detailed description of the Missouri surrogacy process, step by step, to prepare you for your own upcoming journey. If you have more questions or want to start your surrogacy process today, please contact our agency at 1-800-875-BABY(2229).
The 7 Steps of the Missouri Surrogacy Process
First things first: It’s important that all intended parents and prospective surrogates understand that every surrogacy process is different. There are so many factors that go into a surrogacy journey, and many of those are dependent upon the situation of the people involved.
The best way for you to learn about how this process will work for you is by contacting a professional such as those at American Surrogacy.
Once you do contact our professionals, we will be able to guide you through every step of your gestational surrogacy process in Missouri. (Anyone considering traditional surrogacy in Missouri will need to locate a different professional, due to the potential complications and risks of this process.)
American Surrogacy is a full-service surrogacy agency, which means that our professionals will support you from beginning to end and even be available to you after your surrogacy is complete.
So, what does the Missouri process of surrogacy look like with our agency?
Step 1: Decide that the Missouri Surrogacy Process is Right for You.
Before you take any other steps in your surrogacy journey, it’s important that you truly understand what this process entails and you are confident it is the right choice for you. This means that intended parents should consider all of their infertility options, while prospective surrogates should think about what their surrogacy commitment will mean for them and their family moving forward.
Make sure that you research what your rights and responsibilities will be in your Missouri surrogacy process, and take the time to learn about all the potential risks and liabilities, as well.
Remember, you can always talk about your individual situation with our surrogacy professionals anytime when you call 1-800-875-2229(BABY).
Step 2: Choose a Surrogacy Professional and Create a Surrogacy Plan.
Once you have decided that you and your family are ready for gestational surrogacy in Missouri, American Surrogacy is here to help you get started.
Everyone needs an assisted reproduction attorney and fertility clinic for their surrogacy journey, but, when you work with a surrogacy agency, you will be provided additional case management and support that other professionals cannot provide. Another advantage? Your surrogacy specialist at your agency will help you coordinate any other services you need along the way.
When you contact American Surrogacy, your specialist will discuss in detail what you can expect from your journey. They will ask you a few questions and start creating your surrogacy plan. This document will determine how the rest of your surrogacy process in Missouri will proceed.
Step 3: Complete Pre-Surrogacy Screening.
Whatever kind of professional you choose to work with, you will need to complete a pre-screening process before you can move forward with your surrogacy plan.
This is not the right path for everyone; it requires a great deal of time, energy and commitment from both intended parents and prospective surrogates. Therefore, your professional will make sure you meet certain requirements before you can start the official surrogacy process.
Every professional’s requirements will be slightly different but, when you work with our agency, you can expect to complete background screening and medical screening before you can start looking for a surrogacy partner. During this process, your surrogacy specialist will also answer any remaining questions you may have about Missouri surrogacy and how it works.
Step 4: Find an Intended Parent or Gestational Carrier.
If you meet the necessary requirements, you will be ready to start searching for an intended parent or prospective carrier to work with during your Missouri surrogacy process.
When you work with American Surrogacy, your preferences for a surrogacy partner will have been discussed during your surrogacy planning stage. Your specialist will use those preferences to locate a surrogacy partner who shares the same goals. Then, you two will have the chance to meet and get to know each other before your partnership is finalized.
One note: If you are a prospective surrogate, you will have to undergo additional medical screening after you meet a potential intended parent and before you finalize your match with them.
Step 5: Create a Surrogacy Contract.
If you and your surrogacy partner are approved and ready to move forward with your gestational surrogacy process in Missouri, your match will be finalized with a legal contract.
You will both be represented by separate attorneys, whom your surrogacy specialist can help you identify. Your attorneys will be responsible for drafting your contract, which is more than just a legal contract for your match — it will be a legal guideline for your entire surrogacy process. It will typically cover your rights and responsibilities, risks and liabilities, surrogate compensation and other complicated terms.
Only after this contract is signed and finalized can you move forward with the medical process of surrogacy in Missouri.
Step 6: Complete the Medical Process of Surrogacy.
You and your surrogacy partner will work with a fertility clinic to prepare for and complete the embryo transfer process.
Typically, intended parents will have a fertility clinic in mind when they start their surrogacy journey, and they can use that clinic regardless of where their surrogate lives. They will just need to pay her travel costs.
Once a gestational carrier is pregnant, she can receive prenatal care from her local obstetrician and deliver at her local hospital. She will stay in touch with the intended parents throughout her pregnancy.
Step 7: Finalize Your Missouri Surrogacy Process.
When it comes time for the baby’s delivery, both intended parents and the gestational carrier will participate in this life-changing experience.
The intended parents’ surrogacy lawyer will make sure any necessary steps are taken care of to establish the intended parents’ parental rights. This will typically be done through a post-birth parentage order or an adoption after birth in a Missouri surrogacy process. The gestational carrier will receive her final compensation payment upon the birth of the child, and the Missouri gestational surrogacy process will be complete.
Hopefully, this article has given you a good sense of what you can expect from your surrogacy process in Missouri. Because every journey is different, we encourage you to reach out to our professionals for more personalized information and guidance moving forward. When you are ready to start your surrogacy in Missouri, we will be ready to help.