First-time surrogates in South Carolina 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 |
South Carolina has no surrogacy statute and no state appellate decision squarely governing it. The most-cited authority is a federal district court insurance case from 2001 in which the court looked to a gestational carrier agreement to determine the parties' intent. It is often described as implicitly validating such agreements, but it is not a state-court holding on enforceability and should not be relied on as one. Nothing prohibits compensating a gestational carrier, so paid gestational surrogacy is lawful in practice.
Most South Carolina courts grant a consent temporary order before birth, with the final parentage order issued roughly 30 days after delivery. Plan for that interval. Married or unmarried couples using their own or donor gametes are generally eligible; for unmarried same-sex couples only the biological parent qualifies initially, with second-parent adoption to follow. Where the embryo is created entirely from donor gametes, no pre-birth order is available at all. Venue may be your county, the clinic's county, or the county of birth.
No age minimum, prior-birth rule, residency requirement, evaluation mandate or insurance requirement. Counsel is not statutorily required and no statute assigns who pays yours. There is no statutory medical-autonomy protection.
Compensation in a traditional arrangement may run into the adoption statutes' limits on payments beyond reasonable costs. If you are being asked to use your own eggs, get specific legal advice first.
Source: No controlling South Carolina statute or state appellate authority.
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.
South Carolina has no surrogacy statute and no case law prohibiting it, so gestational surrogacy is practiced here by default. Nothing in state law sets requirements or protections, so your contract is your only protection.
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 South Carolina-specific guidance.
18–24 months from application to delivery: matching (1–6 months), medical screening, legal review, and the full pregnancy term.
Also exploring egg donation in South Carolina?
See Egg Donor Pay in South Carolina →Complete our 10-minute application. We'll connect you with licensed agencies serving South Carolina.