Who is considered an intended parent?

An intended parent is the person or couple who initiates the program with the intention of raising the child. They sign the legal agreement, assume the costs, and are recognized as the legal parents from birth or shortly after.

Do intended parents have to provide genetic material?

Yes, in most programs at least one intended parent must provide genetic material. This protects the legal parentage process, addresses ethical concerns, and creates a biological link with the child.

Is there an age limit for intended parents?

Most countries do not set a legal upper limit, but agencies and clinics typically cap participation between 55 and 60 years for ethical and practical reasons. The minimum is usually 25 years.

What rights do intended parents have?

Intended parents have the right to participate in the pregnancy, receive medical updates, make key decisions, be recognized as the legal parents, and have their personal and genetic information protected.

What obligations do intended parents have?

You must cover the program costs, honor the legal agreement, complete post-birth documentation, register the baby, and assume the same parental responsibilities as any other parent.

Can single people or same-sex couples be intended parents?

It depends on the country. In Colombia, single men, single women, heterosexual couples, and same-sex couples are all eligible. Other destinations may be more restrictive — we will help you find the right fit.

How long does the whole journey take?

From the first consultation to birth, the typical timeline is 14 to 18 months. After birth, obtaining citizenship and a passport for the baby usually takes 4 to 6 weeks in Colombia.

Intended Parents in Surrogacy — a clear, guided path to parenthood

Intended Parents in Surrogacy — a transparent, supportive road to becoming parents.

Intended parents are the people who will raise the child born through a surrogacy program. At Loving Surrogates, we walk you through every requirement, every right, and every obligation, so your journey from the first consultation to bringing your baby home is supported, transparent, and ethically sound.

Smiling couple holding baby onesie at home

Who They Are

Intended Parents: The Heart of Every Surrogacy Journey

Intended parents are the individuals or couples who initiate a surrogacy program with the goal of raising the child born through it. Their commitment shapes every step — medical, legal, and emotional.

A role that blends commitment, ethics, and preparation.

Becoming an intended parent is not just a legal status. It is a deliberate choice to bring a child into your family through a process that requires medical coordination, emotional maturity, financial transparency, and respect for the surrogate who carries your child.

Defined Role

You are the legal, emotional, and financial center of the program.

Active Participation

From appointments to decisions, you stay close to the journey.

Ethical Foundation

Programs prioritize the wellbeing of surrogate, child, and family.

Long-Term Vision

Your responsibility extends well beyond birth, for a lifetime.

Why It Matters

Clarity From the Start Prevents Friction Later

The intended parents’ role is clearly defined by law in countries where surrogacy is permitted. Knowing what you can require, what you must provide, and what the surrogate can expect from you is what turns a complex process into a manageable one.

You sign the legal agreement and assume financial responsibility.
You participate in medical decisions and prenatal care.
You are recognized as the legal parent from birth or shortly after.
You build a respectful, transparent relationship with the surrogate.

Two smiling babies with teddy bears on couch

Requirements

What Intended Parents Need to Start a Program

Requirements vary by country, but a few standards apply almost everywhere. Here is what most international programs expect from you before the journey begins.

Minimum Age

Most countries require intended parents to be at least 25 years old. There is rarely a hard legal upper limit, but clinics often cap participation between 55 and 60.

Genetic Contribution

At least one intended parent must provide genetic material and pass fertility testing. This is a near-universal standard across international programs.

Medical & Psychological Fitness

You will undergo health evaluations and meet with a qualified psychologist to confirm you are ready for the journey and for parenting.

Financial Transparency

You must demonstrate the capacity to cover the program, including the surrogate's compensation, medical care, and post-birth arrangements.

Legal Eligibility

Your family structure must be accepted by the country you choose. Some destinations only allow married heterosexual couples; others, like Colombia, accept a broader range of families.

Irrevocable Commitment

Once pregnancy is confirmed, your responsibility becomes legally binding — you cannot withdraw from the program.

Rights

The Rights Intended Parents Hold Throughout the Program

These rights exist to protect your participation in the pregnancy, your recognition as the legal parent, and the privacy of your family’s information at every stage.

⚖️ Rights During the Process

Right to Participate in the Pregnancy

Attend medical appointments, receive regular updates on the surrogate and the baby, and be involved in key decisions throughout the pregnancy.

Right to Information

Access to clear medical, legal, and procedural information so you can make informed decisions at every milestone.

Right to Confidentiality

Agencies, clinics, and professionals must protect your personal, medical, and genetic data, as well as the details of your surrogacy agreement.

👶 Rights at Birth & Beyond

Right to Legal Recognition

In permitted countries, intended parents are recognized as the legal parents from birth — through pre-birth orders, signed documents, or simplified adoption processes.

Right to Citizenship & Passport

You have the right to obtain citizenship and travel documents for your baby. In Colombia, this typically takes 4 to 6 weeks after birth.

Right to Bring Your Child Home

Once documentation is complete, you can return to your home country with your baby — fully recognized as the legal parent.

Obligations

What Intended Parents Are Expected to Provide & Uphold

Surrogacy only works when the intended parents carry their share of the responsibility. These obligations protect the surrogate, the child, and the integrity of the process.

💼 Financial & Legal

Cover All Program Costs

Medical procedures, surrogate compensation, agency and legal fees, and any unexpected costs that arise during the journey.

Honor the Surrogacy Agreement

Sign, respect, and comply with every clause of the legal contract — including the terms that govern the pregnancy and the post-birth phase.

Complete All Documentation

Provide the paperwork needed for parentage, citizenship, and passport processes, and cooperate with any judicial steps that may be required.

🤝 Ethical & Parental

Treat the Surrogate with Respect

Maintain transparent communication, support her wellbeing, and respect the boundaries of the relationship throughout the program.

Register the Baby After Birth

Complete the legal registration of your child in your home country and obtain the documents that establish filiation and identity.

Assume Full Parental Responsibility

Provide care, food, education, medical attention, and emotional support — the same obligations as any other parent, without distinction by method of conception.

Who Can Be Intended Parents

Different Family Models, Same Clear Path

Eligibility depends on the country you choose. In destinations like Colombia, the law accepts a wider range of family structures than most other places, with no discrimination.

💑

Heterosexual Couples

Married or unmarried, fully eligible in most permitted countries.

🏳️‍🌈

Same-Sex Couples

Welcome in Colombia and a growing number of other destinations.

👤

Single Men

Eligible to start a program on their own, subject to health and age criteria.

👤

Single Women

Eligible in countries that allow single intended parents to pursue surrogacy.

The Journey

The Intended Parent's Path, Step by Step

From your first call to bringing your baby home, the journey follows a clear sequence. Knowing the path helps you focus on the goal, not the friction.

What to Expect

A clear roadmap designed around the intended parent's role.

Your participation is structured but personal. Each step gives you the chance to make informed decisions about your family, your surrogate, and the program that fits your timeline.

Clear steps. Real support. No surprises.

Orientation & Eligibility Review

We review your family profile, age, health, and goals, and confirm the destination that fits your case.

Medical & Psychological Evaluation

You undergo fertility testing, a full health screening, and a psychological evaluation with a qualified professional.

Matching with a Surrogate

You review profiles, meet candidates, and mutually select the surrogate who will carry your child.

Legal Contract & Program Start

You sign the surrogacy agreement, and the medical process — IVF, embryo transfer, and pregnancy monitoring — begins.

Pregnancy & Birth

You stay close to the pregnancy, attend key appointments, and are present at the birth when possible.

Documentation & Return Home

We handle citizenship, passport, and travel paperwork so you can return home with your baby quickly and safely.

FAQ

Intended Parents — Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions we hear from people considering a surrogacy program. Need something more specific? Send us a message and we will answer in under an hour.

Who is considered an intended parent?
An intended parent is the person or couple who initiates the program with the intention of raising the child. They sign the legal agreement, assume the costs, and are recognized as the legal parents from birth or shortly after.
Do intended parents have to provide genetic material?
Yes, in most programs at least one intended parent must provide genetic material. This protects the legal parentage process, addresses ethical concerns, and creates a biological link with the child.
Is there an age limit for intended parents?
Most countries do not set a legal upper limit, but agencies and clinics typically cap participation between 55 and 60 years for ethical and practical reasons. The minimum is usually 25 years.
What rights do intended parents have?
Intended parents have the right to participate in the pregnancy, receive medical updates, make key decisions, be recognized as the legal parents, and have their personal and genetic information protected.
What obligations do intended parents have?
You must cover the program costs, honor the legal agreement, complete post-birth documentation, register the baby, and assume the same parental responsibilities as any other parent.
Can single people or same-sex couples be intended parents?
It depends on the country. In Colombia, single men, single women, heterosexual couples, and same-sex couples are all eligible. Other destinations may be more restrictive — we will help you find the right fit.
How long does the whole journey take?
From the first consultation to birth, the typical timeline is 14 to 18 months. After birth, obtaining citizenship and a passport for the baby usually takes 4 to 6 weeks in Colombia.