GSHC Surrogacy School is in session! Read our in-house guide on the ins-and-outs of the journey.
GSHC Surrogacy School is in session! Read our in-house guide on the ins-and-outs of the journey.
Surrogacy offers hope and possibility to a diverse range of intended parents. Here are some of the individuals and families who choose surrogacy:
Whether you’re from Chicago, Schaumburg, Joliet, or elsewhere in Illinois, the supportive laws and resources in the area make surrogacy a viable option for all kinds of intended parents.
Becoming a surrogate is a deeply personal and life-changing decision. Whether you’re in Chicago, Joliet, Schaumburg, or anywhere else in Illinois, GSHC is here to provide you with guidance, support, and resources to make this journey meaningful and rewarding.
Surrogacy compensation in Chicago varies depending on individual experience, qualifications, and the unique circumstances of the surrogacy. Base pay usually ranges from about $40,000 to $85,000, and is determined based on prior surrogacy experience, pregnancy history, the specifics of the surrogacy contract, any unique medical needs, and other factors. Base compensation is paid in regular installments. In addition to base pay, allowances cover other necessities such as surrogacy-related travel, maternity clothing, housekeeping, insurance, and more.
Surrogacy requirements will be slightly different depending on the particular agency one works with, but most agencies in the Chicago area have similar criteria. At GSHC, we maintain stringent requirements to help ensure a happy, healthy journey for everyone involved. Comprehensive medical and psychological screenings will be done to ensure all surrogates are both physically and emotionally prepared to undertake this unique experience. Additionally, all surrogates must be within a certain age range, have a healthy BMI, have a stable home life and financial situation, and more.
GSHC can help you find a surrogate in Illinois and will assist you at every stage of this special journey — from the initial matching process, during which we’ll help pair you with surrogates who may be a good fit for your preferences and needs, to legal processes, all the way through delivery, after which you’ll go home with your new baby.
Surrogacy costs in Illinois can vary from case to case, depending on the surrogate’s prior experience, whether you use an egg donor, any special requests agreed upon in the surrogacy contract, unexpected circumstances or medical needs, and more. Our team is committed to transparency throughout the entire process, and we work closely with intended parents to outline all anticipated costs in detail at the outset.
Finding the right surrogate is a collaborative and carefully managed process:
When intended parents require both an egg donor and a surrogate, the process may seem complex, but in Illinois, it’s well-regulated and straightforward. Legal protections ensure that intended parents are recognized as the legal parents of their child.
As a dual surrogacy and egg donation agency, GSHC simplifies this process by managing everything under one roof. Serving intended parents throughout Illinois, from Chicago to Naperville, we streamline every step to make your experience seamless.
Illinois <> is a growing hub for inclusive surrogacy, offering LGBTQ+ individuals and couples supportive pathways to parenthood. GSHC specializes in personalized care to help create families with respect and compassion.
GSHC Surrogacy Agency provides a structured and supportive surrogacy process. Here’s a step-by-step overview of their approach. | |
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GC Step 1. Application & ScreeningEvery surrogate candidate begins with an application and undergoes a thorough screening process to ensure readiness and eligibility for the program. | IP Step 1. Initial ConsultationThe surrogacy journey starts with a consultation to discuss your goals, answer questions, and map out the process tailored to your needs. |
GC Step 2. Profile CreationSurrogates create detailed profiles that reflect their values, motivations, and experiences, helping intended parents find the right match. | IP Step 2. Seeking a SurrogateDuring the initial matching process, GSHC will assess surrogates’ profiles and compare them with the intended parents’ preferences, values, overall personalities, and expectations to find potential pairings. |
Step 3. Making a MatchAfter the intended parents have reviewed the surrogate profiles, they can decide whether to proceed with particular candidates. GSHC will set up in-person meetings so all parties can get to know one another and determine compatibility. | |
Step 4. Legal ContractsOnce a match has been made, the surrogate can begin initial medical and psychological screenings to ensure readiness for surrogacy. Next, the intended parents’ attorney will draft a surrogacy contract detailing the requirements and expectations of everyone involved. The surrogate will have the chance to review this document with her own attorney and request any changes or ask any questions she may have. | |
Step. 5 Medical ProceduresOnce all parties are in agreement and the contract is signed, the surrogate can begin medical processes, beginning with hormone treatments that will help prepare the body for pregnancy. Next, embryos will be created and transferred into the surrogate’s uterus via a simple medical procedure. | |
Step 6. Prenatal CareOnce the surrogate becomes pregnant, she’ll continue to be supported at every step by expert medical professionals and the caring team at GSHC. The intended parents typically accompany the surrogate to doctor’s appointments as well. Once the surrogate is done with fertility treatments, she can transition from the fertility specialist to her own OB/GYN. She’ll also be able to choose the hospital in which she’ll give birth. | |
Step 7. BirthAs the surrogate goes into labor, the intended parents are typically present at the hospital, ready to offer support and share in the excitement of their baby’s arrival. Legal documents are finalized to ensure the intended parents’ parental rights are formally established after the birth. | |
Step 8. Parental Rights & Post-Delivery SupportFollowing the delivery, the surrogate may have a brief moment to hold the baby before the intended parents take their child home. The surrogate will then receive essential postpartum medical care and support, allowing her to rest, recover, and reflect on her incredible journey. | |
Step 9. An Exciting New ChapterThis final step represents a transformative moment for the intended parents as they embrace their new role and begin life with their much-anticipated baby. | |
Anyone interested in becoming a surrogate in Chicago must first meet the requirements set forth by the specific agency they work with. These requirements may vary slightly but, in general, are designed to protect the health and well-being of both the surrogate and the baby.
Some of GSHC’s surrogacy requirements include:
At GSHC, we specialize only in gestational surrogacy, in which the surrogate does not use her own eggs and therefore is not genetically related to the child. With traditional surrogacy, on the other hand, the surrogate uses her own eggs and therefore is genetically related to the child. Traditional surrogacy is much less common and is much more emotionally and legally complex.
Unlike most states in the U.S., Illinois does not usually require intended parents — whether heterosexual, LGBTQ+, single, or couples — to obtain parentage orders from the courts. As long as a legally binding surrogacy contract is in place and at least one parent is genetically related to the child, the intended parents’ name will be on the birth certificate.
However, different laws will apply when no intended parent is genetically related to the child; this will typically require an adoption. Working with an attorney specializing in such cases will help create as seamless an experience as possible.
