In the United States and many European countries, the issue of commercial surrogacy is often scrutinized heavily by local and federal governments. Some U.S. states ban surrogacy contracts altogether, while others allow them with certain restrictions. Surrogacy is legal in England, but agencies that charge a fee for finding a surrogate mother are not. As of 2010, surrogacy was completely illegal in France, Germany, Norway, Italy, and several other countries, regardless of whether it is for profit or not. Strict laws in such developed countries have led to a rise in international surrogacy in lesser developed nations, such as India, which legalized commercial surrogacy in 2002.
In the United States, many surrogate mothers are paid tens of thousands of dollars to carry a baby. The couple or individual paying the mother may also pay for her medical expenses and provide her with other, non-monetary compensation, like transportation and food. In India, the cost of a surrogate mother is far less, and international surrogacy can allow people who want a baby to avoid many of the legal restrictions common in North America and Europe.
Countries that have declared commercial surrogacy illegal usually cite ethical reasons for the decision. Some see paying for a surrogate mother as renting or buying the human body or a human life. Proponents of surrogacy arrangements maintain that the process is mutually beneficial, allowing the pregnant mother to earn money, while providing a child to people who may not otherwise be able to experience parenthood.