Intended Parents, Family Matters Surrogacy, LLC (“Family Matters”) is a comprehensive surrogacy agency dedicated to helping families achieve their dreams of having a child. We have decades of experience in the Surrogacy profession, creating your family is our expertise and number one goal. We understand that every client has their own needs and we are here to customize our program to meet those needs. Family Matters is dedicated to making the process a memorable one for all parties. Our expert staff works diligently to allow you and your surrogate to focus on enjoying the pregnancy while we handle all of the medical, legal and personal support throughout the entire journey. At Family Matters, you are never alone.
Family Matters Surrogacy
Your journey begins with a personalized consultation with our Agency Director. Our Agency Director will speak with you to ensure that Family Matters is the right fit for your needs. A positive relationship and open communication are the keys to a successful fit. Our Agency Director will listen to your needs, have you complete an “Intended Parent Profile”, and then use all the information gathered to individualize our program; just for you.
Once your individualized program and profile are created, Family Matters will work on matching you with your surrogate mother. All of our surrogate mothers have undergone our extensive screening process; which will be explained in detail during your consultation. When you are ready, Family Matters will send you surrogate profiles to review. When you find a surrogate profile you like and would like to meet the surrogate, Family Matters will send the surrogate your profile for review. Once the surrogate agrees, we will schedule a phone call, video chat, or in person meeting between you and your surrogate; depending on location of each party. When you and your surrogate have agreed to work with each other, you will hire Family Matters as your agent. We will send you a retainer to sign and an invoice that includes our agency fees and your initial professional fees.
As your agent, and after you are matched with the right surrogate mother to help create your family, Family Matters will then send your surrogate mother for Psychological evaluation. This evaluation includes a consult and the surrogate taking the MMPI with a 3rd party licensed professional. This process takes 1-2 weeks for scheduling and results. When your surrogate passes her Psychological Evaluation, we will then send over the necessary paperwork to your IVF doctor to schedule your surrogate’s Medical Evaluation. Once your surrogate’s medical evaluation has been completed, Family Matters will send the necessary documentation over to your attorney to prepare your Gestational Carrier Agreement (legal contract between you and your surrogate). You will review this agreement in detail with your attorney and your surrogate will review the agreement in detail with her attorney as well. Once all parties agree to the terms and conditions of the contract, and under the direction of their respective attorneys, each party will sign and have the contract notarized. Upon receipt of the executed and notarized contract, you will fund the trust account and Legal Clearance will be issued.
The IVF doctor will be given notification of Legal Clearance and begin preparing an IVF protocol in preparation for an embryo transfer. From matching to the embryo transfer is approximately 3 months.
The embryo transfer will take place and your surrogate mother will follow your IVF doctor’s order. Some doctors require bed rest, others do not. Approximately 10-14 days after the transfer, your surrogate will have her first pregnancy test by blood draw. This blood draw is testing the HCG level in her blood to determine if she is pregnant. Upon pregnancy confirmation, your surrogate will have 2-3 ultrasounds to check for a fetal heartbeat and fetal growth. The surrogate will then be released from the IVF clinic and her OB will take over care. The OB will work with your surrogate to determine the best plan of care for everyone involved.
At approximately 16 weeks of pregnancy, your attorney will prepare legal documents that will be filed with the court to determine parentage for your child. This is known as the Pre-Birth Order. This document will go with you to the hospital when your child is born letting the hospital know you are the parents and to direct the hospital to put your name on the birth certificate. This document will be given to the birth certificate clerk and sent to the Department of Vitals Records.
It is impossible for anyone to determine when your baby will arrive. It is very important that you arrive before or as soon as possible after the birth to be with your child. Family Matters suggest that you be here approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the due date of your baby. You will stay in the U.S. approximately 3-4 days after the birth of your baby to complete the appropriate paperwork before you can return home with your new bundle of joy.
Family Matters Surrogacy is committed to supporting you and your surrogate mother throughout the entire journey. Family Matters staff will be available and present during your journey to parenthood. This means we will be at some of your surrogate’s appointments, as well as the birth of your baby, or shortly thereafter, to make sure everyone is settled, comfortable and the paperwork portion is handled. Our ultimate goal at Family Matters is to allow your focus to be on bonding with your new bundle of joy; and nothing else.
Congratulations, your bundle of joy has arrived!