International surrogacy is very expensive, particularly in the US. There are cheaper options if you are prepared to consider other jurisdictions, and not every cost item included within below is essential or necessarily the cheapest/best value option. If your budget is limited, you should discuss with potential agencies alternatives for managing costs. We did not, for example, explore whether we could create embryos in the UK and then have them transferred to the US, nor did we consider using the NHS for any part of our treatment, which may have saved some money. We used highly recommended clinics and agencies that were not necessarily the cheapest option, and we bought better quality insurance cover than was strictly necessary.
At the outset of the process our US agency asked us to transfer $100,000 into an escrow account for the purposes of covering the anticipated fees and expenses of our surrogate. Our agency then administered the escrow account to ensure that the surrogate's fees and expenses were paid.
All figures below are stated in pounds sterling converted at a rate of 1.2$/£, where relevant.
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Fees and expenses paid to surrogate £30,125 (includes fees, monthly expense allowance and maternity clothing allowance)
Surrogate expenses £20,000 (includes health insurance, medical expenses, surrogates legal fees etc)
US clinic costs £37,500 (includes two cycles of ICSI, with genetic testing and transfer of two embryos)
US agency fees £30,000
UK agency fees £7,500
US attorney fees £11,500
UK legal fees £10,000 (does not include representation in court for parental order process – would add another £25,000)
Cost of fertility drugs and UK clinic costs (scans and tests) £5,000
Total
£151,625*
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(* figure excludes travel and accommodation costs for four trips to the United States, totalling 8 weeks).