First-time surrogates in Iowa earn $40,000–$55,000 base compensation plus monthly allowances. See full breakdown below.
| Base Compensation | $40,000 – $55,000 |
| Monthly Allowance | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Maternity Clothing | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Lost Wages | $3,000 – $10,000 |
| Total Potential | $47,000 – $73,000 |
| Base Compensation | $50,000 – $70,000 |
| Monthly Allowance | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Maternity Clothing | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Lost Wages | $3,000 – $10,000 |
| Total Potential | $57,000 – $88,000 |
Iowa has no surrogacy statute, but it does have something most silent states lack: a state supreme court decision squarely upholding these agreements. In P.M. & C.M. v. T.B. & D.B. (2018) the Iowa Supreme Court held that gestational surrogacy contracts are valid, enforceable, and not contrary to public policy, reasoning that payment compensates gestational services rather than a child. Separately, Iowa Code §710.11 expressly carves surrogacy arrangements out of the crime of buying or selling a person.
P.M. v. T.B. arose from a surrogate who changed her mind and tried to keep the baby. She lost. That is a genuine two-way signal: Iowa will enforce your agreement against the intended parents, and it will enforce it against you. Be certain before you sign.
Pre-birth orders are available but genetics-gated: Iowa courts will name an intended parent pre-birth only where that parent has a genetic connection to the child. A non-genetic intended parent needs a post-birth order or an adoption. Venue is normally the birth county or your county of residence.
Iowa imposes no statutory eligibility rules on surrogates — no minimum age, prior-birth requirement, residency rule, or mandated evaluation. It does not require you to have independent counsel, does not say who pays for it, and does not protect your medical decision-making or give you a right to withdraw before transfer.
Source: Iowa Code §710.11; P.M. & C.M. v. T.B. & D.B., 907 N.W.2d 522 (Iowa 2018).
The criteria below are agency screening standards, not state law. No statute here sets a minimum age, requires a prior birth, or mandates medical or psychological evaluation. Agencies apply these criteria (largely from ASRM practice guidance) and they determine whether your application proceeds — but they are policy, and some are negotiable.
Final eligibility is determined by the agency's medical team.
Complete application in 10–15 minutes. Agency contacts you within 48 hours.
Physical exam, bloodwork, and uterine evaluation — paid for by the agency.
Review profiles and meet potential intended parents. You always have the right to say no.
Surrogacy agreement reviewed by your own attorney, funded by the agency.
Monthly compensation begins immediately after transfer. All medical costs covered.
Remaining compensation disbursed around delivery. Post-delivery allowances continue up to 6 weeks.
Yes. Iowa has no surrogacy statute, but the Iowa Supreme Court held in 2018 that gestational surrogacy contracts are valid and enforceable. That decision binds you as well as the intended parents.
Typically yes. Most agencies require you to live in the state where you carry the pregnancy, as medical care and legal jurisdiction are state-specific.
Base compensation is generally taxable at the federal level. Expense reimbursements (travel, maternity clothes) are typically not taxable. Consult a tax professional for Iowa-specific guidance.
18–24 months from application to delivery: matching (1–6 months), medical screening, legal review, and the full pregnancy term.
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