Becoming a surrogate in South Carolina gives you the chance to do something truly meaningful for a family who needs your help. Even without a formal surrogacy statute on the books, local family courts routinely uphold gestational contracts, so you can move forward knowing your rights, health, and pay are secure.
The journey takes you step by step through screening, matching with the right parents, and finalizing your legal agreement before scheduling the embryo transfer.
At American Surrogacy, our team handles the legal coordination, clinic appointments, and financial escrow from the start so you can focus on carrying a safe pregnancy and enjoying the experience.
Requirements to Become a Surrogate in South Carolina With American Surrogacy
To ensure a safe environment for both you and the baby, prospective surrogates must satisfy fundamental age, health, and lifestyle criteria prior to joining our program:
The Process to Become a Surrogate in South Carolina: Step by Step
Carrying a child for an intended family follows a clear, step-by-step roadmap designed to safeguard your physical safety, financial security, and personal boundaries:
Step 1. Apply to be a Surrogate and Complete Agency Screening: 1-3 Months
Your journey starts when you submit an online application to verify your basic qualifications. Our specialist team then helps you complete background reviews and collect previous medical records:
Medical Record Review: ~1-5 weeks Background Check: ~1 week Psychological Evaluation: Results available in ~1 week Insurance Review: ~1 week
Step 2. Match With Intended Parents: 0-2 Months
We assist you in building a personalized surrogate profile sharing your story, family life, and vision for pregnancy. Through our mutual matching model, you review profiles of prospective intended parents and select the family you feel drawn to help.
Step 3. Complete Medical Clearance: 1-2 Months
Once matched, you travel to the intended parents' fertility clinic for an in-person health exam. A reproductive physician performs routine bloodwork, health evaluations, and a uterine exam to grant formal clinical clearance.
Step 4. Complete Your Gestational Carrier Agreement: 1-2 Months
Before starting any fertility medications, you consult with an independent South Carolina surrogacy attorney. Your lawyer reviews all contract terms, including compensation schedules, medical decision rights, and delivery preferences, so your personal boundaries are completely protected.
Step 5. Complete the Embryo Transfer: 1-2 Months
Once legal clearance is established, you follow a medication schedule to prepare your uterine lining. On transfer day, the reproductive endocrinologist gently places the embryo inside your uterus during a quick outpatient procedure.
Step 6. Confirm Pregnancy and Begin Receiving Monthly Base Payments: 9 Months
A blood test two weeks later measures your hCG levels to confirm pregnancy. Once an ultrasound detects a fetal heartbeat, your monthly base pay begins and continues across the nine months of pregnancy.
How Long Does Surrogate Screening Take?
Agency and clinical screening usually takes 1 to 3 months to finalize. Requesting your previous prenatal and delivery records early keeps your application moving efficiently:
Contact your medical providers to authorize sharing your medical records Upload your insurance card and policy booklet (if applicable) Submit IDs for all household members 18+ Send your profile materials to your specialist as soon as possibleTips to Keep Things Moving
How South Carolina Law Affects Your Surrogacy Agreement
Gestational surrogacy is fully legal and practiced throughout South Carolina. Because state laws rely on judicial precedent—such as Mid-South Insurance Co. v. Doe—rather than a specific surrogacy statute, your written gestational carrier contract serves as the legal blueprint for your protections, rights, and compensation.
Escrow and Compensation Requirements
South Carolina law permits compensated gestational surrogacy. To guarantee payment security, intended parents fund all agreed surrogate compensation into an independent, licensed escrow account prior to embryo transfer. This setup ensures your monthly base pay, reimbursements, and allowances are disbursed automatically without delay.
Independent Legal Representation
Because South Carolina surrogacy relies heavily on contract enforceability, independent legal representation is required for both parties. Intended parents cover all legal expenses for your attorney, ensuring you have dedicated legal representation with zero out-of-pocket costs.
Insurance Requirements
Prior to starting medication, an insurance specialist reviews your primary health insurance policy to check for surrogacy exclusions. If your personal policy excludes surrogate pregnancies, intended parents purchase a dedicated supplemental policy to protect you from unexpected medical bills.
Abortion and Medical Decision-Making
South Carolina statutory rules set specific legal parameters regarding reproductive healthcare timing. Your gestational carrier contract outlines mutual, pre-agreed terms regarding selective reduction and termination in advance, guaranteeing your personal ethics and medical choice are respected.
How Much Do Surrogates Make in South Carolina?
Surrogate compensation packages in South Carolina generally range from $70,000 - $110,000+ in total financial value.
- First-Time Surrogates: Base pay typically ranges between $45,000 and $55,000.
- Experienced Surrogates: Returning surrogates can earn $60,000 to $75,000+ in base pay for their proven pregnancy record.
- Allowances & Coverage: Packages cover monthly expenses, maternity wear budgets, travel costs, and lost wage protections.
Your final earnings depend on factors like your work status, location, and pregnancy details. Explore personalized figures using our online surrogate compensation calculator.
Why Become a Surrogate With American Surrogacy?
Partnering with an experienced agency ensures your journey is safe, organized, and financially transparent:
- Top-Tier Compensation: We offer competitive base pay structures, negotiable allowance options, and a commitment to match higher qualifying agency offers.
- Stronger Control and Protections: Benefit from mutual matching, dedicated legal representation under South Carolina case law, and thorough background checks for intended parents.
- Support That Stays With You: Work directly with a personal surrogacy coordinator and mental health professionals who check in with you throughout your pregnancy.
What If You Don’t Meet the Requirements to Become a Surrogate?
If you do not satisfy every requirement today, you may still be able to become a surrogate down the line. Weaning from breastfeeding, giving your body time to heal after a birth, or reaching a target BMI can reopen your application in the future.
If carrying a pregnancy isn't an option right now, you can still help build families through our referral program. Connecting qualified candidates with American Surrogacy allows you to support others while earning a referral bonus when your referral enters our program.
Apply to Become a Surrogate in South Carolina
Taking your first step toward becoming a surrogate begins with our brief online application form. In just a few minutes, you can check your eligibility, learn about your compensation potential, and plan your next steps.
Contact us today, and we can provide immediate support and clear information so that you can make the best decision for your child and your family's future.