New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline: How Long Does the Process Take?
April 3, 2025 by Frank Golden
You’ve been researching surrogacy for weeks now, and one question keeps circling back: how long does this actually take?
If you’re considering becoming a Surrogate in New Jersey, understanding the New Jersey surrogacy timeline is essential. You deserve clarity about what to expect, when to expect it, and why each stage exists.
Here’s the truth: the surrogacy process typically takes between 14 and 18 months from your first conversation with an agency through delivery. However, every journey is unique. Some move faster, while others require more time for medical coordination, legal preparation, or personal readiness.
The Gestational Carrier Agreement Act provides a structured legal framework for surrogacy in New Jersey that protects you throughout the process. This means certain steps: like finalizing your contract before embryo transfer: are required by law. These timelines aren’t obstacles. They’re safeguards designed to protect your health, your autonomy, and your peace of mind.
At Golden Surrogacy, Founder Frank Golden and the Dedicated Care Team guide you through every stage as family. You’ll never feel rushed, pressured, or uncertain about what comes next. The Agency Director remains available via phone, text, and email whenever questions arise.
Let’s walk through the New Jersey surrogacy timeline step by step so you can plan confidently.
Table of Contents
- Overview of the New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline
- Preliminary Agency Screening (Stage 1)
- Matching With Intended Parents (Stage 2)
- Fertility Clinic Medical Screening (Stage 3)
- Legal Contracts Under New Jersey Law (Stage 4)
- Pre-Birth Orders and Legal Parentage Planning
- Medical Preparation and Embryo Transfer
- Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Period
- Factors That Can Affect the New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline
- Frequently Asked Questions About the New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline
- Planning Your Surrogacy Journey With Confidence
Overview of the New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline
Most Surrogates in New Jersey complete their journey within 14 to 18 months. This includes everything from your initial application through postpartum recovery.
Why does surrogacy take this long? Building a family requires preparation, coordination, and compliance with New Jersey law. Each stage serves a specific purpose: protecting your health, clarifying expectations, and ensuring legal safeguards are in place before pregnancy begins.
The New Jersey Gestational Carrier Agreement Act requires that your gestational carrier agreement be finalized and signed before any embryo transfer takes place. This statutory requirement adds time to the front end of your journey, but it also guarantees that your rights, compensation, and medical care are clearly defined in writing before you become pregnant.
At Golden Surrogacy, we follow a precise sequence to ensure every Surrogate moves forward safely and confidently. That sequence begins with thorough preliminary screening, well before you ever meet Intended Parents.
Preliminary Agency Screening (Stage 1)
Your journey starts with a comprehensive agency-level screening process. This stage typically takes 30 to 90 days or less, depending on how quickly medical records arrive and appointments can be scheduled. Explore our Surrogate Intake Process Guide!
Importantly, this screening happens before you’re matched with Intended Parents. Golden Surrogacy conducts this preliminary review to confirm that you meet all medical, psychological, and lifestyle requirements before moving forward. This protects both you and future Intended Parents from unnecessary delays later by ensuring you meet the requirements to become a Surrogate.
Medical Records and OB Clearance
First, you’ll submit your obstetric medical records from your previous pregnancies. Golden Surrogacy’s team reviews these records carefully to confirm that your prior pregnancies and deliveries were healthy and uncomplicated.
Next, you’ll obtain an OB clearance form from your current OBGYN. This form verifies that you’re in good reproductive health and cleared for pregnancy. You’ll also complete a physical exam, a Pap smear, and infectious disease testing (IDT) to screen for conditions like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
These steps typically take 2 to 4 weeks, depending on your doctor’s availability and how quickly labs process your results.
Background Checks and Home Visits
Simultaneously, Golden Surrogacy conducts a thorough background check. This includes criminal history screening and verification of your stable living environment.
Additionally, the team schedules an in-person home visit. During this visit, a representative from Golden Surrogacy meets you at your home to assess your living situation, discuss your support system, and answer any questions you might have about the surrogacy process.
This home visit usually takes place within 2 to 3 weeks of your initial application. It’s a relaxed, conversational meeting: not an inspection. The goal is to ensure you have the stability and support needed for a successful journey.
Psychological Assessment and Insurance Analysis
Emotional readiness is just as important as physical health. That’s why Golden Surrogacy requires an in-person psychological assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional who specializes in reproductive psychology.
This assessment evaluates your emotional preparedness, your understanding of the surrogacy process, and your support network. It’s not a judgment of your character. Instead, it’s a protective step to ensure you’re entering surrogacy for the right reasons and with realistic expectations.
Finally, the team conducts a detailed insurance analysis to determine whether your current health insurance policy covers surrogate pregnancies. If your policy excludes surrogacy, Golden Surrogacy helps arrange alternative coverage on behalf of the Intended Parents.
This entire preliminary screening stage must be completed and approved before you move to Stage 2: matching with Intended Parents.
Matching With Intended Parents (Stage 2)
Once you’ve been cleared through preliminary screening, you’re ready to be matched with Intended Parents.
Matching typically takes 1 to 2 weeks, though some Surrogates connect with Intended Parents more quickly. Golden Surrogacy carefully reviews profiles to match Surrogates and Intended Parents based on shared values, communication styles, and journey preferences.
During this stage, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with potential Intended Parents via phone or video call. You’ll discuss expectations around communication, involvement during pregnancy, and delivery plans. If you feel comfortable moving forward, Golden Surrogacy facilitates the official match.
It’s essential to understand that matching happens only after you’ve completed and passed all preliminary agency-level screenings. This sequence protects everyone involved by ensuring you’re medically, psychologically, and legally ready before introducing Intended Parents into the process.
For more details on what to expect during matching, explore Golden Surrogacy’s match call tips podcast.
Fertility Clinic Medical Screening (Stage 3)
After you’ve matched with Intended Parents, you’ll move to Stage 3: in-person screening at the Intended Parents’ fertility clinic.
This stage typically takes 4 to 8 weeks and must align with your menstrual cycle timing. The clinic conducts a comprehensive medical evaluation to confirm that your uterus is healthy and prepared for embryo transfer.
You’ll undergo a series of tests, including:
- Transvaginal ultrasound to assess uterine lining and ovarian health
- Blood work to check hormone levels
- Infectious disease testing (repeated even if you completed IDT earlier)
- Uterine cavity evaluation (often via saline sonohysterogram or hysteroscopy)
- Review of your obstetric history by the clinic’s reproductive endocrinologist
The fertility clinic’s approval is required before you can proceed to the legal phase. If the clinic identifies any concerns: such as polyps, scar tissue, or hormonal imbalances: those issues must be resolved before moving forward.
This stage also includes a meeting with the clinic’s nursing coordinator, who explains the embryo transfer protocol, medication schedule, and appointment expectations. You’ll leave this appointment with a clear understanding of what the medical side of your journey will look like.
Legal Contracts Under New Jersey Law (Stage 4)
Once the fertility clinic clears you medically, you’ll enter the legal phase. This stage typically takes 4 to 8 weeks and is required by New Jersey law before embryo transfer can occur.
Drafting the Gestational Carrier Agreement
Under the Gestational Carrier Agreement Act, Intended Parents must provide you with a written, enforceable gestational carrier agreement. This contract outlines every aspect of your journey, including:
- Base compensation and milestone-based payment schedule
- Reimbursements for maternity clothing, travel, childcare, and lost wages
- Medical decision-making authority
- Delivery preferences and hospital coordination
- Termination provisions (if medically necessary)
- Insurance coverage and liability
The Intended Parents’ attorney drafts this agreement. However, you are entitled: and required: to have your own independent legal counsel review and negotiate the contract on your behalf.
Independent Legal Representation
New Jersey law mandates that you have your own attorney who is separate from the Intended Parents’ legal team. The Intended Parents cover the cost of your legal representation, so there’s no financial burden on you.
Your attorney ensures that the contract protects your rights, clearly defines compensation, and complies with New Jersey surrogacy law. They’ll explain every clause in plain language and negotiate any changes you request before you sign.
Once both parties have signed the gestational carrier agreement, the legal phase is complete. At this point, you’re ready to begin medical preparation for embryo transfer.
For a deeper dive into New Jersey’s legal framework, read the New Jersey Surrogacy Laws: Legal Guide for Surrogates.
Pre-Birth Orders and Legal Parentage Planning
While your legal contract is being finalized, your attorney also begins preparing for the pre-birth order process.
A pre-birth order is a court order that establishes the Intended Parents as the legal parents of the baby before birth. In New Jersey, courts typically issue pre-birth orders during the second trimester of pregnancy.
This process involves filing a petition with the New Jersey Superior Court, submitting evidence of the gestational carrier agreement, and: in some cases: attending a brief court hearing. Once the pre-birth order is granted, the baby’s birth certificate will list the Intended Parents as the legal parents from the moment of birth.
Pre-birth orders eliminate legal ambiguity and ensure a smooth hospital discharge process. They also allow the Intended Parents to make all medical decisions for the baby immediately after delivery.
This legal preparation typically runs parallel to your medical preparation, so it doesn’t add extra time to your overall timeline.
Medical Preparation and Embryo Transfer
Once your legal contract is signed and your pre-birth order preparation is underway, you’ll begin the medical preparation phase. This stage typically lasts 15 to 30 days.
You’ll start taking hormonal medications: usually estrogen and progesterone: to prepare your uterine lining for embryo transfer. The fertility clinic monitors your progress through regular blood work and ultrasounds to ensure your lining reaches the ideal thickness (usually 8mm or more).
When conditions are optimal, the clinic schedules your embryo transfer. This is a simple, non-surgical procedure that takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The reproductive endocrinologist uses a thin catheter to place the embryo into your uterus. You’ll rest for a short period afterward, then return home the same day.
Approximately 10 to 14 days after transfer, you’ll return to the clinic for a blood test to measure your hCG levels and confirm pregnancy. If the test is positive, you’ll continue progesterone supplementation and attend additional monitoring appointments until your 8th or 9th week of pregnancy. At that point, the fertility clinic releases you to your regular OBGYN for standard prenatal care.
If the first transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy, the Intended Parents and fertility clinic will determine next steps. Some journeys require multiple transfer attempts before achieving a successful pregnancy.
Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Period
Once pregnancy is confirmed, the next nine months unfold much like any other pregnancy: with a few key differences.
Throughout your pregnancy, Golden Surrogacy’s Dedicated Care Team remains in close contact. You’ll attend regular prenatal appointments with your OBGYN, and the Agency Director checks in frequently to ensure you’re comfortable and supported.
During your second trimester, the Intended Parents’ attorney files for the pre-birth order, and Golden Surrogacy coordinates with your delivery hospital to ensure everyone understands the surrogacy arrangement. Hospital staff will be briefed on the birth plan, and the Intended Parents will be present for delivery (if that’s your preference).
Delivery proceeds according to your OBGYN’s recommendations. Afterward, you’ll recover in the hospital for the standard postpartum period (usually 24 to 48 hours for vaginal delivery, or 3 to 4 days for cesarean section).
Once you’re discharged, Golden Surrogacy continues providing support during your postpartum recovery. You’ll receive reimbursement for any postpartum medical appointments or lactation suppression expenses, and the team checks in regularly to ensure you’re healing physically and emotionally.
Most Surrogates return to their normal routines within 6 to 8 weeks postpartum.
For insights into compensation during this journey, visit New Jersey Surrogate Compensation: What Surrogates Can Expect.
Factors That Can Affect the New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline
While the typical New Jersey surrogacy timeline spans 14 to 18 months, several factors can influence how long your journey takes.
Clinic scheduling: Fertility clinics operate on tight schedules. Delays in securing appointments for screening, monitoring, or embryo transfer can add weeks to your timeline.
Legal coordination: Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating your gestational carrier agreement takes time. If either party requests significant contract revisions, the legal phase may extend beyond the typical 4 to 8 weeks.
Insurance review: If your current health insurance policy excludes surrogacy coverage, Golden Surrogacy and the Intended Parents must arrange alternative coverage. This process can take several weeks.
Personal readiness: Some Surrogates need additional time to prepare emotionally, coordinate childcare, or manage personal commitments before moving forward. Golden Surrogacy never rushes you. Your journey proceeds at your pace.
Court processing time: Filing for a pre-birth order requires court approval, and processing times vary by county. Some courts issue orders quickly, while others may take several weeks.
Multiple transfer attempts: If the first embryo transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy, additional cycles add time to your overall journey. However, each attempt follows the same medical preparation protocol, so subsequent transfers typically move faster than the first.
Understanding these variables helps you set realistic expectations and plan your journey confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Jersey Surrogacy Timeline
How long does surrogacy take in New Jersey?
Most surrogacy journeys in New Jersey take 14 to 18 months from initial consultation through delivery. However, timelines vary based on clinic scheduling, legal coordination, and personal readiness.
When are contracts signed?
Under the Gestational Carrier Agreement Act, your gestational carrier agreement must be signed before embryo transfer. This typically happens 4 to 8 weeks after the fertility clinic clears you medically.
Does New Jersey require court approval before birth?
Yes. New Jersey law allows Intended Parents to obtain a pre-birth order during the second trimester of pregnancy. This order establishes legal parentage before delivery and ensures the baby’s birth certificate lists the Intended Parents from birth.
Can timelines vary?
Absolutely. Every surrogacy journey is unique. Some Surrogates move through the process faster, while others require more time for medical coordination, legal review, or personal preparation. Golden Surrogacy tailors the timeline to your needs.
What causes delays?
Common factors include clinic scheduling, insurance review, legal negotiations, and court processing times. Additionally, if the first embryo transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy, subsequent transfer attempts add time to your journey.
For more information on eligibility and preparation, explore New Jersey Surrogate Requirements: Do You Qualify?.
Planning Your Surrogacy Journey With Confidence
Understanding the New Jersey surrogacy timeline empowers you to plan confidently and set realistic expectations.
Every stage of the process: from preliminary screening through postpartum recovery: exists to protect your health, clarify expectations, and ensure compliance with New Jersey law. The Gestational Carrier Agreement Act creates a structured legal framework that safeguards your rights and autonomy throughout the journey.
At Golden Surrogacy, your dedicated Care Team guide you through every milestone as family. You’ll never feel rushed, pressured, or uncertain about what comes next. The Agency Director remains available via phone, text, and email to answer questions and provide support whenever you need it.
If you’re ready to explore whether surrogacy is right for you, take the next step at your own pace. Visit Golden Surrogacy to learn more, or reach out directly to start a conversation. Your journey begins when you’re ready.
