Why Texas for surrogacy

Texas is the second-largest surrogacy market in the US after California. Three reasons make Texas attractive for surrogates:

1. Clear legal framework. Chapter 160 of the Texas Family Code explicitly permits gestational surrogacy agreements. Courts must pre-approve the surrogacy agreement before embryo transfer, which adds a few weeks to the legal timeline but creates strong protections for everyone.

2. Lower cost of living, competitive compensation. Texas surrogate compensation ($73,000 total for first-timers with Simple Surrogacy) goes further than the same dollar amount in California. Most Texas surrogates report their compensation feels meaningful at that number.

3. Established agency infrastructure. Texas has been a surrogacy state since the 1990s. Fertility clinics, attorneys, and agencies all have deep experience with the legal and medical process.

The Texas partner agency: Simple Surrogacy

Simple Surrogacy
Dallas, TX · Founded 2002 · 70% Texas surrogates
★ 5.0 · 32 reviews
$58–63K
First-timer base
$73K
First-timer total
$89K
Experienced total

Why Simple Surrogacy for Texas: Simple Surrogacy is headquartered in Dallas and has been operating continuously since 2002. That makes them the longest-running partner agency in our network. 70% of their active surrogates are in Texas, so their coordinators know Texas law, Texas courts, and Texas fertility clinics inside out.

Compensation structure: First-time base pay is $58,000–$63,000 depending on insurance and location within Texas. Total first-timer package is $73,000. Experienced surrogates earn $68,000+ base and $89,000 total. Base pay starts 5 days after positive pregnancy test. Last payment is at delivery. All travel is paid through the agency and all meals are reimbursed — zero out-of-pocket cost.

Communication style: Works with your preferred method (email, text, calls). Weekly check-ins plus before and during all milestones. Immediate response during business hours, 24/7 emergency contact after hours. Private Facebook group plus in-person meetings. 8 counseling sessions available at request. Partner can attend any session.

What makes them unique: All-female owned since 2002. The owner is a 3-time surrogate herself. 70% of their intended parents are LGBTQ+ couples — they sit on the Advisory Council of Men Having Babies and are founding members of Gays with Kids. If you want to help LGBTQ+ families specifically, Simple Surrogacy is the highest-volume LGBTQ+ match in our partner network.

Surrogate reviews: 100% positivity rate across 32 verified reviews on Google and Surrogacy Advisor. Top themes: full journey support (25%), successful delivery (16%), financial management (16%), perfect matching (12%).

Love them if: You want a coordinator who was a surrogate herself. You want a long-established, all-female-owned agency. You want to help LGBTQ+ couples. You want an escrow advocate to ensure fair, on-time payment.

Not right if: You're choosing purely on highest compensation. You want an agency with huge marketing budgets and fancy websites. You're not in a stable relationship or don't have family support.

Read the full Simple Surrogacy review →

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Texas surrogacy law explained

Texas gestational surrogacy is governed by Chapter 160 of the Texas Family Code. Here's what that means for you:

The court pre-approval requirement

Texas is unique in requiring court approval of the gestational surrogacy agreement before the embryo transfer. The intended parents and the surrogate (and her spouse, if married) file a joint petition in the intended parents' county of residence. A judge reviews the contract to ensure:

  • The surrogate is at least 21 years old
  • The surrogate has had at least one prior pregnancy
  • The intended parents are married
  • The contract follows Texas Family Code requirements
  • Everyone is represented by independent counsel

This court step adds 4–8 weeks to the pre-transfer timeline but creates strong legal protection. Once approved, the intended parents are recognized as the legal parents automatically at birth — no additional court proceedings needed.

Texas has strict requirements for intended parents

Texas only recognizes gestational surrogacy agreements between married intended parents. Unmarried couples and single parents can still have surrogacy arrangements in Texas, but they don't get the same statutory protections and need additional legal steps.

This matters for you as a surrogate because it means most Texas surrogacy matches involve married intended parents. Simple Surrogacy's 70% LGBTQ+ IP ratio is mostly married same-sex couples who appreciate Texas's legal clarity for married couples.

Pre-birth orders work differently in Texas

Unlike California's pre-birth order system, Texas uses the pre-transfer court approval as the legal mechanism. Once the court approves the agreement, the intended parents are the legal parents from birth. The hospital treats them as such automatically.

Texas surrogate requirements

Simple Surrogacy follows standard requirements with Texas-specific considerations:

  • Age: 21–39 (experienced surrogates up to 42)
  • BMI: Under 32 generally
  • Pregnancy history: At least one healthy full-term pregnancy
  • Currently parenting: At least one child
  • Non-smoker: Including household members
  • Texas residency: Not strictly required, but most matches are Texas-based for legal ease
  • Stable housing and support
  • Willing to travel to Dallas or nearby fertility clinics

Common Texas cities for surrogacy

  • Dallas: Simple Surrogacy headquarters. Highest concentration of matches.
  • Houston: Major fertility clinics and legal infrastructure.
  • Austin: Growing market, several agencies with Texas branches.
  • San Antonio: Smaller but active surrogacy community.

Expected timeline in Texas

Texas journeys are slightly longer than California journeys because of the court pre-approval requirement. Expect:

  • Application and screening: 2-3 months
  • Matching: 1-3 months (typically faster than average because Simple Surrogacy's Texas pool is deep)
  • Legal contracts + court approval: 6-10 weeks
  • Medical protocol and transfer: 1-2 months
  • Pregnancy: ~9 months
  • Delivery and post-birth: 1-2 months

Total: 16-20 months average. First-timer range is 16-20 months, experienced 14-16 months.

Frequently asked questions

Which agency is best for Texas surrogates?
Simple Surrogacy is our primary Texas partner. Headquartered in Dallas and operating since 2002, they have the deepest Texas surrogate pool and know Texas Family Code inside out. First-time total compensation is $73,000.
What's the court pre-approval process in Texas?
Texas requires court approval of the gestational surrogacy agreement before embryo transfer. You and the intended parents jointly petition the court in their county of residence. A judge reviews the contract to ensure it meets Texas Family Code requirements. The process adds 4-8 weeks but creates strong legal protection.
Do Texas surrogacy laws only cover married couples?
Texas Chapter 160 recognizes gestational surrogacy agreements between married intended parents. Unmarried couples and single parents can still do surrogacy in Texas but need additional legal steps outside the statutory framework.
How much do Texas surrogates earn?
First-time Texas surrogates with Simple Surrogacy earn $58,000–$63,000 base and $73,000 total. Experienced surrogates earn $68,000+ base and $89,000 total. Compensation is lower than California but goes further given Texas's lower cost of living.
Do I have to live in Texas to be a Texas surrogate?
Not strictly, but most Simple Surrogacy matches involve Texas-resident surrogates for legal ease. The Texas court pre-approval process works best when the surrogate is a Texas resident.
How long does a Texas surrogacy journey take?
16-20 months on average. The Texas court pre-approval adds about 4-8 weeks compared to California journeys. Experienced surrogates complete the process in 14-16 months typically.