Now accepting new surrogate applications in California—See if you qualify →
Santa Cruz & Central Coast · Founded by a Former Surrogate
Surrogacy in Santa Cruzand Santa Cruz County
Third-party medical screening. 3–6 month matching. $65,000–$90,000+ surrogate compensation. Level III NICU at Dominican Hospital with Stanford neonatologists.
Made in the USA Surrogacy, serving Santa Cruz, the Central Coast, and all of Northern California since 2017.
“They didn't sugarcoat the process, and they didn't pressure me.”
— Jenny M., surrogate
Santa Cruz has no surrogacy agency within city limits, and the nearest fertility clinic is 20 miles over Highway 17 in Los Gatos. But living here doesn't mean navigating surrogacy without local knowledge or support.
Made in the USA Surrogacy is a Sacramento-based agency founded by Samantha Giermek, a former surrogate who built this organization from personal experience. Every surrogate in our program is a California resident. We know the Santa Cruz delivery hospitals by name, we coordinate with the Bay Area fertility clinics your journey will involve, and we match families and surrogates in 3–6 months, not the 6–12+ that has become the industry norm.
Whether you're a woman in Santa Cruz County considering surrogacy or intended parents researching agencies that understand the Central Coast, this page has the specifics that other surrogacy agencies leave out.
Local Resources
Surrogacy in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz sits at the northern tip of the Monterey Bay, a beach town with a major university, a progressive community, and a Central Coast identity distinct from the Bay Area just over the mountain. California's surrogacy laws provide the strongest legal framework in the United States.
Nearest Fertility Clinics
Reproductive Science Center (RSC)
Los Gatos · ~20 miles via Highway 17
The closest clinic to Santa Cruz with over 40 years of experience. Gestational carrier and egg donation services, plus Monterey monitoring available for Santa Cruz-area surrogates.
Spring Fertility
Sunnyvale · ~35 miles via Highway 17
On-site embryology lab and surgery center, experienced with gestational carrier IVF transfers.
Bay IVF
Palo Alto / San Jose
Boutique fertility clinic with a dedicated gestational surrogacy program directed by Dr. Polansky.
Highway 17 connects Santa Cruz to Silicon Valley in roughly 30–40 minutes, giving surrogates and intended parents access to some of the best fertility clinics in Northern California.
Delivery Hospitals in Santa Cruz
Dominican Hospital (Dignity Health)
Level III NICU staffed by Stanford Children's Health neonatologists through a partnership with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. Blue Distinction Center for Maternity Care, Baby-Friendly designated. The strongest option for surrogacy deliveries in Santa Cruz.
Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center
28-bed licensed acute care hospital specializing in maternity, staffed with both doctors and midwives. Joint Commission accredited. Newsweek America's Best Maternity Hospital. Note: does not have an emergency department.
California Legal Framework
California Family Code sections 7960–7962 govern surrogacy statewide, including Santa Cruz. Pre-birth parentage orders mean both parents are on the birth certificate before the baby is born. No post-birth adoption. No waiting period.
Santa Cruz surrogates and families benefit from all of that within a community that already understands the meaning of chosen family. Learn more about California surrogacy laws.
Our Difference
Why Families and Surrogates in Santa Cruz Choose Us
No agency is headquartered in Santa Cruz. The question is whether the agency you choose actually knows this area or treats it like a ZIP code on a map.
Third-Party
Medical Screening
Screening That Most Agencies Won't Publish
Every surrogate in our program completes comprehensive medical evaluation including third-party IVF nurse review of complete OB/GYN records for all pregnancies—not just the most recent. Every candidate also undergoes psychological assessment, financial stability verification, background screening, and unannounced nicotine testing.
We invest in this process because the quality of the match matters to everyone involved—surrogates, intended parents, and the baby. Thoroughness protects all three.
Every Surrogate Lives in California
No cross-state coordination. No conflicting laws. No ambiguity about which legal framework applies. When your surrogate is a California resident, the entire journey stays within the strongest legal protections in the country.
For Santa Cruz surrogates, that means working with nearby Bay Area fertility clinics while receiving support from an agency that understands your geography.
100%
California-Based
3–6 Months
Avg. Match Time
Matching in 3–6 Months, Not 6–12+
The industry average is 6–12 months or longer. We typically match families in 3–6 months because our surrogate compensation—$65,000+ base for first-time surrogates—attracts a deeper pool of qualified candidates.
More candidates means more potential matches. More matches means faster, better outcomes for everyone.
Founded by a Former Surrogate
Samantha Giermek became a surrogate before she built this agency. She knows what the process feels like from the inside, what support actually looks like versus what agencies claim it looks like. That experience shapes everything from how we screen to how we communicate. Read more about our story.
“We spent over a year with another agency and never got a match. Samantha's team matched us in four months. The screening gave us confidence we hadn't felt before, and the communication was completely different from what we'd experienced.”
— Rebecca T., intended parent
Since 2017
Surrogate-Founded
For Surrogates
Become a Surrogate in Santa Cruz
If you're a woman in Santa Cruz County thinking about surrogacy, you're weighing two things at once: whether it's meaningful enough to commit your body and time to, and whether it's financially worth it. At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we don't ask you to choose. Both matter.
Surrogate compensation: $65,000–$90,000+. Base compensation starts at $65,000+ for first-time surrogates and $70,000+ for experienced surrogates. That reflects what surrogacy actually requires of you, and it's higher than what most agencies in Northern California offer.
Benefits of Becoming a Surrogate
Full health insurance coverage
All pregnancy-related medical care, paid by the intended parents.
Monthly allowances
Maternity clothing, housekeeping, and childcare during appointments.
Independent legal representation
Paid for by intended parents, to protect your rights throughout the process.
Dedicated case manager support
From application through postpartum, including a direct line to someone who understands what you're going through.
The experience itself
Surrogacy is one of the most meaningful things you can do for another family, and the relationships built during the journey often last well beyond delivery.
What the Process Looks Like
Application
Takes about 10 minutes. We review your basic qualifications and health history.
Screening
Medical records review, psychological assessment, background check. Our team walks you through every step.
Matching
We connect you with intended parents based on values, preferences, and compatibility, not just availability.
Medical clearance
Your fertility clinic, likely RSC in Los Gatos or Spring Fertility in Sunnyvale, both a short drive over Highway 17, confirms readiness for the transfer process.
Legal
Independent legal representation for you, paid for by the intended parents. Your rights and compensation are formalized before anything medical begins.
Pregnancy and delivery
Ongoing support from your case manager. Dominican Hospital's Level III NICU with Stanford neonatologists and Sutter Maternity's award-winning birth center are both right here in Santa Cruz.
Surrogacy is physically demanding, emotionally complex, and not for everyone. We're honest about that. But for the right person, it's one of the most significant things you can do—and it can provide real financial stability for your family while you do it. Santa Cruz is a community that values purpose and connection. If surrogacy has been on your mind, this is an agency that will invest in you the way you're investing in someone else's family.
For full details, visit our surrogate requirements page or see the complete compensation breakdown.
For Intended Parents
Find a Surrogate in Santa Cruz
For intended parents, choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the most consequential decisions in the process. You're trusting an organization to screen the person who will carry your child, manage the logistics of a journey that spans more than a year, and be available when things don't go as planned.
At Made in the USA Surrogacy, our screening process and matching track record speak directly to those concerns. Our journey success rate is 99.3–99.5%, built on the thoroughness of our screening and the quality of support throughout the process.
Our surrogates complete one of the most comprehensive screening processes in the industry. Combined with a 99.3%–99.5% success rate on embryo transfers with our surrogates, that screening translates to outcomes you can feel confident about.
How the Process Works for Intended Parents
Free consultation
A conversation about your goals, timeline, and questions. No pressure, no commitment.
Matching
We identify surrogate candidates who align with your preferences, values, and medical needs. Typical timeline: 3–6 months.
Medical clearance
Your fertility clinic evaluates the surrogate's readiness for embryo transfer. Santa Cruz-area journeys typically work with RSC in Los Gatos, Spring Fertility in Sunnyvale, or Bay IVF in Palo Alto.
Legal agreements
Both parties get independent legal counsel. Contracts are finalized before any medical procedures.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy
Coordinated with your fertility clinic, with ongoing support from our team.
Birth and parentage
California's pre-birth parentage order means you're on the birth certificate before delivery. Dominican Hospital and Sutter Maternity in Santa Cruz both support surrogacy births.
The full journey from consultation to birth is typically 18–24 months. Our step-by-step surrogacy process page has the complete breakdown.
Investment
Santa Cruz Surrogacy Costs
Total surrogacy investment typically starts at $160,000+, covering surrogate compensation, agency fees, IVF and medical expenses, legal fees, and insurance.
Total Estimated Investment
$160,000+
California's clear legal framework can simplify, and in some cases reduce, legal costs compared to states where surrogacy law is less established. Higher surrogate compensation isn't just a line item; it attracts more qualified candidates, which can mean fewer complications and a smoother journey overall. Santa Cruz families should also factor in travel to Bay Area fertility clinics for IVF-related appointments. RSC's Los Gatos location and their Monterey monitoring services help minimize that burden.
For a full breakdown, visit our detailed cost guide.
Central Coast Coverage
Serving the Central Coast and Beyond
We serve families and surrogates throughout Santa Cruz, the Central Coast, and all of California.
Learn more about surrogacy in California across all the cities we serve.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the surrogacy laws in Santa Cruz, California?
California Family Code sections 7960–7962 govern surrogacy statewide, including Santa Cruz. California allows pre-birth parentage orders, meaning both intended parents are on the birth certificate before the baby is born. There is no post-birth adoption requirement and no waiting period. These protections apply to all intended parents regardless of marital status or genetic connection. See our full California surrogacy laws.
How do I find a surrogate in Santa Cruz?
While there is no surrogacy agency headquartered in Santa Cruz, Made in the USA Surrogacy serves Santa Cruz County and the Central Coast from our Sacramento-area office. Every surrogate in our program is a California resident, and we coordinate with Bay Area fertility clinics accessible from Santa Cruz via Highway 17. See our full Schedule a free consultation.
How much does surrogacy cost in Santa Cruz?
Total surrogacy costs typically start at $160,000 and can exceed $200,000 depending on medical needs, the number of transfer cycles, and insurance. This includes surrogate compensation, agency fees, IVF, legal fees, and insurance. See our full detailed cost breakdown.
How much do surrogates get compensated in Santa Cruz?
At Made in the USA Surrogacy, base compensation starts at $65,000+ for first-time surrogates and $70,000+ for experienced surrogates, with total compensation packages reaching $65,000–$90,000+. This includes base compensation plus additional allowances throughout the journey. See our full compensation details.
Are there fertility clinics near Santa Cruz that work with surrogacy agencies?
Santa Cruz does not have an IVF clinic within the city, but several excellent fertility clinics are a short drive over Highway 17. Reproductive Science Center (RSC) in Los Gatos is the closest at roughly 20 miles, with Monterey monitoring also available. Spring Fertility in Sunnyvale (35 miles) and Bay IVF in Palo Alto also work with surrogacy agencies and gestational carriers. See our full Learn about becoming a surrogate.
Start a Conversation
“I looked into surrogacy for almost a year before I applied anywhere. What made me choose Made in the USA was how honest they were from the first conversation. They didn't sugarcoat the process, and they didn't pressure me. My case manager checked in regularly, and knowing the agency genuinely invested in my well-being made the whole thing feel personal.”
— Jenny M., surrogate
Whether you're exploring surrogacy for the first time or comparing agencies that serve Santa Cruz and the Central Coast, we'd rather answer your questions honestly than pitch you.
For Surrogates
The application takes about 10 minutes. No commitment. It's the first step in finding out if surrogacy is right for you.
See If You QualifyFor Intended Parents
A free consultation is a conversation, not a sales call. We'll walk through your situation and answer your questions, even if next steps aren't with us.
Free ConsultationMade in the USA Surrogacy is headquartered in Roseville, California. Founded by Samantha Giermek, a former surrogate. Serving families and surrogates throughout Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Aptos, Watsonville, Soquel, and all of California.
