Surrogacy questions and terms

Glossary of terms

Gestational carrier / gestational surrogate

A person who carries a pregnancy for intended parent or parents and does not provide the egg used to create the embryo.

Intended parent(s)

The person or people who intend to become the child's legal parent or parents. The legal route depends on the jurisdiction and facts of the arrangement.

IVF (in vitro fertilization)

A process in which eggs are fertilized outside the body to create embryos, one of which may later be transferred to the gestational carrier.

Embryo transfer

A medical procedure in which an embryo is placed into the uterus. The exact protocol and medications are determined by the fertility clinic.

Parentage order

A court order addressing legal parentage. Whether an order is available before or after birth, and whether a court order is required at all, depends on state law and the facts of the case.

Independent legal counsel

An attorney representing one party's own interests rather than both sides jointly. Whether separate counsel is legally required depends on the applicable jurisdiction and statutory framework, though it is common in gestational-surrogacy practice.

Escrow account

An account or payment arrangement used to hold and disburse funds according to agreed instructions. The structure and regulatory requirements vary by program and jurisdiction.

Base compensation

The core agreed compensation amount, separate from reimbursements, allowances or event-specific payments where those are included.

Matching

The process by which a potential surrogate and intended parent or parents evaluate whether they want to proceed together.