This might sound like the simplest step of all, but there is much to consider before you decide to move forward with surrogacy in Richmond. While surrogacy is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling way to build a family, it’s important to make sure it's the right option for you. Take some time to consider the pros and cons, look at Virginia surrogacy laws and reach out to surrogacy professionals to get more information.

If you’re having trouble deciding or just want to talk about your options, don’t forget we're always here to help.

When you’re considering surrogacy in Richmond, Virginia, there are a few big questions you’ll need to ask yourself. Is it better to choose a gestational surrogacy or a traditional one? Would you rather work with an agency, or is it better to go independent? The choices you make will determine the outcome of your Richmond surrogacy experience.

No matter what path you decide, we’ll help you complete the required legal steps of the Richmond surrogacy process.

Before you can move forward with a match, you’ll need to go through the Richmond surrogacy screening process. The requirements  largely depend on the individual professionals you select. Here’s what the screening process commonly includes for both parties:

For intended parents:

• An in-home assessment, which is decided on a case-by-case basis
• An interview
• Background checks

For surrogates:

• An in-home assessment
• Background checks
• A medical and psychological evaluation
• A surrogate social medical history form

After completing the screening process, it’s time to find a match. Some intended parents and surrogates will already have a match. In this case, you’ll likely only need a Richmond surrogacy attorney to help complete the required legal process. If you don’t have a match in mind, here’s how to find one:

You can either work with a matching program (surrogacy agency) or you can pursue independent surrogacy (without an agency). If you choose to work with an agency, they’ll screen potential matches for you and then support you throughout the Richmond surrogacy process. If you try independent surrogacy in Richmond, you will be responsible for finding your own potential match, screening them yourself and managing the entirety of the process.

No matter how you find your match, we’ll complete the necessary legalities and ensure your legal protection. When and if both parties are ready to move forward, the process will begin to legally solidify the match for your surrogacy in Richmond.

Once everyone is ready to move forward, it’s time to start drafting the legal contract. Both the intended parents and the surrogate will each have their own Richmond surrogacy attorney. They’ll meet separately to make sure everyone is  represented fairly and equally. If you need a referral to a secondary surrogacy attorney in Richmond, we’re happy to provide a referral to trusted local representation.

After everyone agrees to the terms and language in the contract and the attorneys have reviewed and approved everything, the contract will be signed and finalized.After that, it will be time for the next, and perhaps most exciting, stage of the Richmond surrogacy process.

Once you’ve completed your legal contract, you’re ready to start the embryo transfer process, which will be handled by an agreed-upon fertility clinic.

If the intended parents don’t already have frozen embryos, either the intended mother or the egg donor will begin taking medication to help develop eggs. Once that’s done, the egg retrieval process will begin. The egg will be taken to a laboratory to be fertilized and create an embryo. Then, the embryo will be transferred to your surrogate.

All of this and more will be carefully detailed within the contract we help you to establish.

All of this and more will be carefully detailed within the contract we help you to establish.

The last step of the Richmond surrogacy process is, of course, the birth of the baby and the completion of the last few legal steps. This is an exciting day for everyone involved. Most of the time, the intended parents will be there to welcome their newborn at the hospital. After the baby is born and the surrogate is ready to be discharged, everyone will head home with their lives forever changed.

We  will guide you through those last legal steps and ensure that your Richmond surrogacy has been completed correctly.