Gestational Carriers Frequently Asked Questions

Gestational Carrier FAQ’s

Becoming a Gestational Carrier can be a life-changing decision — both for the gestational carrier and the Intended Parents. Potential Gestational Carriers often have many questions about how surrogacy works, what to expect, and what role Katrina Cassidy, as a Texas surrogacy lawyer, plays in the process. Below you’ll find answers to many of the questions we hear most often.

1) Is Katrina Cassidy, P.C. a Surrogacy Agency?

Katrina Cassidy, P.C.* is a law firm which represents only Intended Parents. However Katrina Cassidy, P.C. offers the same services and more competitive compensation and bonuses than any surrogacy agency and much more as set out below. We also always ensure all Gestational Carriers have their own counsel of their choice which is paid for by the Intended Parents.

2) What Experience Does Katrina Cassidy, P.C. Have In Gestational Surrogacy?

The Katrina Cassidy, P.C. is owned by attorney, Katrina Cassidy. Ms. Cassidy is an experienced Texas attorney who has been practicing law in the Houston area for twenty years. Her previous legal experience has been in general civil litigation including practice in the areas of personal injury, insurance law, employment law and commercial litigation. For the past eleven years her practice has focused exclusively on Assisted Reproductive Law. Katrina Cassidy’s Assisted Reproductive Law practice focuses specifically on assisting Intended Parents through the complete gestational surrogacy process. Katrina Cassidy has an insight and empathy into the process from the perspective through her personal experience with infertility and her own successful experiences as an Intended Parent in the gestational surrogacy process.

3) Why Should I Go Through Katrina Cassidy, P.C. To Match With Intended Parents Instead Of A Surrogacy Agency?

Katrina Cassidy, P.C. only works with Gestational Carriers in Texas. All of its clients are either from Texas or are working with IVF Physicians in Texas. You will never have to leave your family to travel out of state or out of the country.
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. offers the same or more competitive compensation and services to Gestational Carrier candidates as any surrogacy agency and is competitive in the recruitment of excellent candidates. (Please see Carrier Compensation Schedule).
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. encourages direct contact between the Intended Parents and Gestational Carrier immediately after meeting and all parties decide to move forward to enable the parties to build a relationship.
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. does not represent Intended Parents with a felony conviction or conviction for any sexual offense.
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. insists on the treatment of all parties involved in the process with dignity, respect, courtesy and compassion.
Each Gestational Carrier will be assigned a case worker and will also have a close working relationship with Katrina Cassidy throughout the process. The same people are available to address all your concerns and needs.
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. only represents the Intended Parents however we always ensure that the Gestational Carrier (and her husband if married) has her own legal counsel unless they waive counsel. (In the event of a dispute, a surrogacy agency will try to facilitate but they will generally not formally represent either the Intended Parents or the Gestational Carrier).
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. is present during the entire process until the child is born, the final paperwork obtained, and all bills, including all medical bills are paid.
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. has been in operation since 2004 and has an excellent reputation among the medical professionals and Gestational Carriers in the reproductive and surrogacy community. (References are available).
Katrina Cassidy, P.C. is owned by an attorney, Katrina Cassidy, who, with her husband, has personally been an Intended Parent on two surrogacy journeys. She understands and appreciates the process from a personal viewpoint as well as a legal one.
Because Katrina Cassidy, P.C. is owned by an attorney and is a law firm, Katrina Cassidy, P.C. is governed by the State Bar of Texas, specifically the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, which regulate the business practices and conduct of all Texas attorneys and law firms. Accordingly Katrina Cassidy, P.C. conducts its business under the highest codes of conduct. (Unless a surrogacy agency is owned by an attorney, they are not bound by any state or national regulatory authority).

4) What Qualifications Do I Need To Be A Gestational Carrier With Katrina Cassidy, P.C.?

The basic qualifications include the following:

You reside in Texas;
You must have had at least one previous pregnancy which resulted in live birth;
Previous pregnancies had no complications;
Must be age 39 or under;
Must be height weight proportionate with BMI 30 or under;
Must have no criminal record of any conviction of any crime other than traffic tickets. Arrests with subsequent dismissal and no conviction are looked at on a case by case basis.
Must lead a healthy lifestyle with no drugs, smoking and limited alcohol intake;
Health insurance with no surrogacy exclusion is preferable but not required;
If you are married your husband is supportive.

5) What Should I Do If I Would Like To Be Matched With Intended Parents Though Katrina Cassidy, P.C.?

Simply call us and we will answer your questions, conduct a phone interview and send you an information packet and a Gestational Carrier questionnaire to complete online.

6) Will I Have A Lawyer Represent Me (And My Husband If Married) And If So, Who Pays The Lawyer?

Yes and the Intended Parents pay for attorney for the Gestational Carrier (and her husband if married).

7) Will I Have Direct Contact And Relationship With The Intended Parents?

Yes, Katrina Cassidy, P.C. encourages the parties to have direct contact immediately after meeting and deciding to work together. Contact information is exchanged at that time. Usually a natural friendship evolves.

8 ) When Do I Meet The Intended Parents?

Your profile is shared with Intended Parents based on the criteria they have identified such as location, etc. and the criteria you have specified. If the Intended Parents would like to meet a particular Gestational Carrier candidate, she will be contacted and given a profile of the Intended Parents. If both parties would like to meet, a dinner or lunch meeting at a mutually convenient date and time is set up.

9) Do I Pick The Parents Or Do They Pick Me?

Both. The parties must all agree to work together.

10) Are My Eggs Used In The IVF Process?

No. In Texas the gestational surrogacy statute prohibits use of the Gestational Carrier’s own eggs. Either the Intended Mothers or donor eggs will be used. You will have no biological connection to the child.

11) Will The Intended Parents Be At All The Doctor Appointments And Delivery?

Yes, most parents would love to be at the doctor’s appointments and delivery.

12) Can My Husband, Mother Or Friend Be With Me During Delivery?

Yes, unless otherwise agreed between the parties, up to two adult family members or friends may be with the Gestational Carrier during delivery.

13) What Do I Pay Out Of My Compensation and Bonuses?

Please refer to the Gestational Carrier Compensation Schedule. All reasonable and necessary expenses are paid by the Intended Parents.

14) Will I Have To Take Medications And Get Injections?

Yes but there will be training on how to administer the injections provided by the IVF Physician.

15) Do I Get To Use The Obstetrician That I Choose?

The parties usually will agree to the obstetrician together however most Intended Parents want their carrier to feel comfortable and trust their obstetrician and are usually comfortable with the carrier’s choice of obstetrician. Most Intended Parents do however want delivery to occur at a hospital with an obstetrician instead of a home birth, water birth or midwife.

16) Will This Be A Business Relationship? What Kind Of Relationship Can I Expect To Have With The Intended Parents?

To some extent it is however most Intended Parents want to have a natural friendship with the Gestational Carrier and her husband and lots of contact. In most cases a very amicable relationship and sometimes a long lasting friendship develops.

17) How Are My Compensation and Bonuses Paid?

The base compensation is paid in monthly installments once a Gestational Carrier becomes pregnant and that pregnancy is confirmed via blood test administered by the IVF Physician.

18) Is There Escrow?

Yes, if the Gestational Carrier requests it.

19) Do I Need To Be From Texas Or Is Any State Acceptable?

Katrina Cassidy, P.C. only works with Texas gestational carriers at this time.

20) What Are the Compensation and Bonuses I Can Expect To Receive?

Please refer to our Gestational Carrier Compensation Schedule under this section.

21) Will I Get To See The Baby At Birth?

Of course. Usually these details are discussed between the parties when they meet such as who will be there, whether minor children may hold the child, etc.

22) What Happens If The Parents Change Their Mind And Do Not Want To Take The Baby?

This has never happened in the history of Katrina Cassidy, P.C. however if it did, the child would be placed for adoption. The legal process is such that the child is legally declared to be the child of the Intended Parents before the child is ever born so that the process is the same as if any set of biological parents who did not have their child through surrogacy wanted to place a child for adoption. The Gestational Carrier will have no legal right or responsibility to the child.

23) What Happens If There Is A Miscarriage?

Payment is prorated through the end of the week when the miscarriage occurs. Then, if all parties mutually decide to try again, the cycle and payments would begin anew.

24) Why Do I Need Health Insurance And What Is A Surrogacy Exclusion?

The in vitro process is paid by the Intended Parents however the pregnancy itself is covered under the Gestational Carrier’s own insurance. The deductible, co-pays and co-insurance are all paid for by the Intended Parents.

25) What Happens If I Only Want To Be A Gestational Carrier For A Certain Type Of Couple?

You would specify that in your interview or on your written profile.

26) How Does Katrina Cassidy, P.C. Determine What Intended Parents I Should Match Up With?

We look at all criteria such as location, personality of all the parties, etc. to carefully match up the parties.

27) Will I Have To Travel?

You will never have to travel out of Texas. If however you do not live in the same city as the Intended Parents, there may be some travel involved at least initially for the screening, legal and embryo transfer. In the second trimester you will see your own local OB for pre-natal care. The IVF Physician will usually keep a Gestational Carrier as a patient up to about 10-12 weeks gestation. Then, the IVF Physician would discharge you as a patient and you would then see your own local OB for the rest of the pregnancy and delivery.

Katrina Cassidy, P.C. DBA Katrina Cassidy, P.C. has provided the information on this website for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute legal advice. The use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please contact Katrina Cassidy, P.C. if you wish to discuss in more detail the contents of this website.