Are You Thinking of Becoming a Gestational Carrier?
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What our clients say...
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The Process
When my husband and I began looking into surrogacy to complete our family, we were overwhelmed and intimidated by all of the legal aspects that go in to such an arrangement. Thankfully, one of our first calls was to Avenues to Surrogacy. From the start, Jim and his team not only provided us with excellent legal representation and advice, but they also did so in a manner that was compassionate, professional, and that exceeded our expectations. Throughout the duration of our time working with Avenues to Surrogacy, we were always kept in the loop regarding everything going on and their team was always quick to respond to our many questions, giving us the guidance and reassurance that we needed.
It is without reservation that we recommend Avenues to Surrogacy to anyone looking in to and pursuing surrogacy.
One of our first calls...
Joshua and Nicole
Why choose us...
Contact us today to learn more about this exciting and rewarding opportunity to help intended parents start or grow their families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why New Hampshire?
The surrogacy law in NH was revised in 2014 to be more friendly to gestational surrogacy, while also providing necessary protections to intended parents and surrogates. The new law allows for the gestational surrogate and intended parent to enter into a contract for surrogacy, allows for payment to the surrogate, and allows the intended parents’ names to be on the child’s birth certificate.
How long does the process take?
The surrogacy process usually takes about a year from the time the parties are matched. The time before the match depends on the requirements the intended parents are looking for in a surrogate and the availability of surrogates.
What are the requirements for becoming a surrogate?
New Hampshire law states that you must be at least 21 years old, have given birth to at least one child, and must be willing to complete medical and mental health evaluations. Most fertility clinics, however, are more particular when determining if a woman is an acceptable candidate for a surrogate pregnancy. Generally, Avenues to Surrogacy looks for surrogates who are under the age of 40, have had 1- 3 uncomplicated pregnancies, have a proportionate height/weight ratio, maintain a healthy lifestyle free from smoking, drugs, or alcohol abuse and have a strong support system.
Will I be legally or financially responsible for the child?
No. You and the intended parents will enter into a legal contract that will govern each party’s legal rights and responsibilities. The contract will state that the intended parents shall be the legal parents of any child carried by you as a gestational surrogate. You will also receive independent legal advice from an attorney, at no cost to you. Your attorney will review the agreement with you to ensure that you are comfortable with all of the legal issues. Additionally, the intended parents’ status as the child’s legal parents will be clarified through a pre-birth order.
What is the first step? How do I get started?
The first step is to call the Avenues to Surrogacy team at 603-228-6712 or complete the form above to schedule an initial conversation. During the conversation, we will walk you through the process and answer your questions.
How much will I be compensated for being a gestational surrogate? Will my expenses be covered?
For your time and effort, the fees run between $30,000 to $60,000. Total compensation can be more, based on a variety of factors. Details are provided in your Avenues to Surrogacy consultation. In addition, you will not be responsible for out-of-pocket expenses related to your surrogate pregnancy. All funds are collected by the agency and placed into an escrow account. The funds are released as designated in the surrogacy agreement.
Every Step of the Way
Our team will be with you every step of the way to answer questions and make the process enjoyable and fulfilling.
When I first met the Avenues to Surrogacy team, I could tell they were more like a family than an agency or law firm. Jim and the entire staff were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process, and he always said, “Don’t worry. We will take care of everything for you so you can just focus on being pregnant.” And that I did! My time as a gestational carrier ended in October 2016 when I gave birth to happy and healthy twin boys! It was a wonderful experience.
Just focus on being pregnant...
Stephanie
Individual attention
Our goal is to provide you with individualized attention and to guide you through the surrogacy journey.
Local Experts
Avenues to Surrogacy is the first surrogacy agency in New Hampshire.
18 Centre Street Concord, NH 03301
Talk to us about Surrogacy and we can answer any questions you may have.
Ready to Get Started?
We understand that you may have a lot of questions about the process and whether it is right for you and your family. Avenues to Surrogacy will walk alongside you through the entire process.
We will be here to answer questions, guide, and support you every step of the way! Request more information or give us a call today.
Learn more about all of the benefits of being a gestational carrier.
Talk to us about Surrogacy and we can answer any questions you may have.
Application
Once you have contacted us at Avenues to Surrogacy by phone or email, a team member will connect with you and schedule an initial conversation. We will answer any questions you might have about our agency and the surrogacy process. We will also review the application and documentation needed to begin the process.
If you decide to move forward, we will give you the full application packet.
1
Matching
We then create a match profile based on your information. The profile will include your first name, the answers you provided to the questions on the application and a photo. It will not include your last name or any other identifying information. After reviewing the match profiles of both the gestational surrogate and intended parents, we match parties according to their preferences and other application criteria. We take whatever time is needed in this initial stage to make sure that the parties are compatible.
2
Screening
The next step is the screening process. Some of our intended parents already have relationships with an IVF clinic or fertility doctor; if this is the case you may continue working with these professionals. If you do not have an existing relationship, we can recommend IVF clinics and fertility doctors to you. During this stage, the gestational surrogate’s information would be shared with the clinic, and the clinic would schedule medical and psychological screenings for all parties.
3
Contract
As part of our process, the gestational surrogate and intended parents are each represented by separate attorneys to prepare the Gestational Surrogate Contract. We will provide you with the names of attorneys who are familiar with surrogacy, and you will select an independent attorney to represent you throughout the contract negotiations. The gestational surrogate’s legal expenses will be paid for by the intended parents. The intended parents’ attorney will prepare the Gestational Surrogate Contract and will forward the document to the gestational surrogate’s attorney for your review.
The attorney will guide you through the contract, make any changes you request and resubmit the amended contract to the intended parents’ attorney.
4
IVF
The IVF clinic will set up a protocol to prepare the gestational surrogate’s body to carry the pregnancy. This will involve taking medications and synchronizing the surrogate’s cycle with that of the intended mother or egg donor. Once everyone is ready, a transfer day is scheduled.
The clinic will do a pregnancy test approximately two weeks after the transfer. If the test is positive, we move onto the pregnancy stage. If the test is negative, the IVF process may be repeated with the permission of both parties.
5
Pregnancy
After a positive pregnancy test, the clinic will make an appointment for an ultrasound to confirm a visible heartbeat. The clinic will monitor the gestational surrogate for a period of time before releasing her to her own OB/GYN, who will provide the prenatal care for the remainder of the pregnancy.
During this time, we encourage the intended parents develop a relationship with the gestational surrogate. For example, we suggest our intended parents attend as many prenatal appointments as possible. You will also have ongoing support and contact from the Avenues to Surrogacy team. We will check in with you regularly and are available to answer your questions along the way.
6
At Avenues to Surrogacy, the surrogacy process is a team effort. Our expert team is on hand to guide you through the process.
We are here to make each stage of the process as smooth as possible and to ensure that it is fulfilling and enjoyable. Our team understands that you may have a lot of questions about the process and whether it is right for you and your family. We will be here to answer questions, guide, and support you every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about this exciting and rewarding opportunity to help intended parents start or grow their families.
Are You Thinking of Becoming a Gestational Carrier?
Our Executive Team
Agency Director
Kristine A. Pries
Kristine Pries is the Agency Director at Avenues to Surrogacy. She oversees the day-to-day operations and works with all clients to ensure a positive experience. Kristine’s extensive background in education provides a strong foundation for her work with intended parents and gestational carriers throughout their surrogacy journey.
As Director, Kristine works to supervise many aspects of the process. She oversees the matching between gestational carriers and surrogates, advises clients on surrogacy best practices, and ensures all details of the surrogacy contracts are accounted for and complied with during the process. Kristine is often the first point of contact for potential new parents and surrogates, and spends a great deal of time helping families and individuals decide if gestational surrogacy is the right path for them.
Kristine earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Keene State College, where she majored in Early Childhood Education. She started her career as a teacher, working with children in preschool and kindergarten, before eventually serving as a childcare director and private school principal.
James J. Bianco, Jr. is a practicing attorney in Concord, New Hampshire and is the founder of Avenues to Surrogacy.
After graduating from law school in 1972, Jim was counsel to New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, he co-authored New Hampshire’s first adoption law. In 1981, Jim opened his own law firm, Bianco Professional Association, and started the firm’s nationwide adoption practice. As the practice grew, Jim recognized that there were many different ways in which to grow a family. He saw that gestational surrogacy, like adoption, was an incredible way to help people build or expand their families. In 2014, Jim was the lead attorney who worked diligently to revise New Hampshire’s outdated surrogacy statute. He is proud to be a part of New Hampshire’s first surrogacy agency, Avenues to Surrogacy.
Today, Jim is considered one of the region’s premier adoption and surrogacy attorneys. He was recently named an Angel In Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington, DC, after being nominated by United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
Jim earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire, and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a former adjunct professor at Franklin Pierce Law Center (now the University of New Hampshire School of Law) and Notre Dame College.
Founder
James J. Bianco, JR., Esquire