Surrogacy in Washington, D.C. & Maryland

Surrogacy in Washington, D.C. & Maryland – Statutory, Inclusive & Parentage-Friendly

Washington, D.C. and Maryland offer supportive legal frameworks for gestational surrogacy, providing a clear and structured path for intended parents. This guide outlines the surrogacy process in these regions, detailing legal requirements, FDA compliance, and the steps Surrogacy4All’s physician-led team follows to ensure a safe, transparent, and emotionally supported journey from consultation to homecoming.

Who This Guide Is For

Intended Parents: Heterosexual couples, LGBTQ+ couples, and single individuals seeking a legally sound pathway in Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
Professionals: Busy individuals preferring concierge-level coordination, clear budgets, and independent escrow services.
Comparative Shoppers: Those evaluating agencies and clinics and needing a compliance-first checklist to avoid delays or surprises.

In Washington, D.C. and Maryland, initiating your journey begins by verifying state licensing, FDA registration, and securing independent legal counsel before comparing agencies or clinics.

Why Surrogacy4All Leads in Washington, D.C. & Maryland

Surrogacy4All is a physician-led program that places licensing and FDA compliance at the center of every step. Our model is built around three pillars:

Compliance First: Adherence to Washington, D.C. and Maryland's legal requirements, FDA-registered clinics and tissue establishments, independent escrow services, and written protocols.
Clinical Quality: Evidence-based protocols, clear embryo strategies (including PGT-A when appropriate), and careful monitoring.
Whole-Journey Support: Surrogate wellness, mental health resources, timely legal filings, and weekly case management updates for intended parents.

Quick wins you’ll experience: fewer hand-offs, fewer surprises, faster filings, and a calmer pregnancy for your surrogate—because we sequence legal, medical, and insurance work in parallel, not in slow serial order.

Licensing & FDA Compliance: What "Good" Looks Like in Washington, D.C. & Maryland

1) Licensing & Registration

Washington, D.C.: Agencies operating in D.C. must comply with local regulations. While specific licensing requirements may vary, agencies should provide proof of compliance upon request.
Maryland: Surrogacy is permitted under case law and practice, including for singles, unmarried couples, and those using their own or donor gametes. Agencies must adhere to applicable state laws and regulations.

2) FDA Standards (21 CFR Part 1271)

FDA-Registered Clinics/Lab Partners: Only clinics and labs registered with the FDA are utilized.
Documented Screening/Testing: Infectious disease testing for donors; chain-of-custody and storage records.
Written SOPs: Standard Operating Procedures for tissue handling, labeling, record retention, and adverse-event reporting.

Agreements & Legal Framework

Washington, D.C.

Maryland

Costs & Timelines

Costs vary based on embryo readiness, insurance, and medical complexity. Expect a transparent, line-item budget that distinguishes agency, legal, escrow, clinical, and surrogate-related expenses. Typical journey length is 12–18 months from intake to birth. Parallel processing (legal, insurance, screening) can shorten timelines by several weeks.

Step-by-Step The Washington, D.C. & Maryland Journey

Step 1

Consult & Readiness

Define goals, budget, timeline, and legal domicile.

Step 2

Compliance Check

Verify licensing, FDA partners, and escrow details upfront.

Step 3

Clinical Onboarding

Embryo plan (use existing embryos or create), infectious disease labs, medical review.

Step 4

Surrogate Matching

Values-aligned match; expectations on communication, selective reduction, delivery hospital.

Step 5

Legal Contracts

Independent counsel; finalize before meds.

Step 6

Medication & Transfer

Evidence-based protocol; monitoring; embryo transfer at FDA-registered clinic.

Step 7

Pregnancy Support

OB transition; wellness resources; regular case updates; payments via escrow.

Step 8

Parentage

Pre-birth order strategy and filings; hospital plan.

Step 9

Delivery & Homecoming

Discharge with parentage docs ready; newborn insurance and pediatric follow-up.

Surrogate Screening & Support

Medical: OB history review, uterine assessment, labs, medication tolerance.
Psychological: Mental-health evaluation and readiness for third-party reproduction.
Background & Social Review: Safety checks and home-environment assessment.
Wellness: Nutrition, sleep, movement, stress support; appointment logistics and travel coordination.

Legal in Washington, D.C. & Maryland: CPSA in Practice

Under Washington, D.C.’s laws and Maryland’s case law, compensated gestational surrogacy is permitted with explicit protections for the surrogate and the intended parents. You should expect:

Independent Counsel for All Parties: With specific reproductive law experience.
Comprehensive Agreements: Covering medical decision-making, expenses, and expectations.
Pre-Birth Orders: In many cases, establishing legal parentage.
Hospital Plan: Coordinated in advance with L&D and counsel.

Case Study

From Match to Baby in 15 Months

A single intended mother with embryos stored at an FDA-registered clinic. After compliance checks, she matched with a surrogate in 6 weeks. Contracts finalized within 30 days. First transfer was successful. A pre-birth order was granted in the second trimester. She left the hospital with her baby 48 hours after delivery—smoothly, thanks to parallel processing of legal, insurance, and medical steps.

Surrogacy in Washington, D.C. & Maryland