Surrogate Steps

Yifat Shaltiel, Esq. is the Author of ‘Save Money on Surrogacy.’ She is the founder of Surrogate Steps, and she is an Assisted Reproductive Technology law attorney concerning surrogacy and fertility. Yifat has been featured as a reproductive law specialist in surrogacy at various venues, including: New York State Legislature United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women MSNBC Fox5NY News FOX40 News WHCU Radio Cornell Law School Cornell University Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York Reproductive Rights Committee for the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York Finger Lakes Women’s Bar Association Tompkins County Bar Association Men Having Babies Jewish Theological Seminary Jewish Fertility Foundation Yifat has also published numerous articles on reproductive law and surrogacy, including an article on the cost of surrogacy for the American Bar Association. Yifat received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota, where she was awarded a full scholarship and a J.D. from New York Law School where she received high honors for her published law review article, which was cited numerous times by other law review articles, as well as courts, including District Court of Appeals. Yifat’s passion to help couples and individuals become parents and build their families through assisted reproductive technology and surrogacy stems from her own struggles to grow her family and her eventual use of advanced reproductive technology to become the mother of two beautiful children. Yifat is admitted to practice law in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and is affiliated with the following organizations: American Bar Association-Family Law Section (ABA) Assisted Reproductive & Genetic Technology Committee (ABA) Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) Co-Chair of Reproductive Health Law Committee (WBASNY) Finger Lakes Women’s Bar Association (FLWBA) LGBTQ+ Committee (FLWBA) Seeds Ethics

Meaghan German is a Parent Consultant at Surrogate Steps. With more than a decade of experience in IVF and reproductive medicine, she brings compassion, expertise, and a deep understanding of family-building to her work. As one of the first points of contact for intended parents, Meaghan provides consultations, answers initial questions, and helps guide families through the early stages of onboarding. Having become a parent through IVF herself, she understands the emotional and practical challenges of assisted reproduction and believes everyone deserves a chance to grow their family. Passionate about helping people achieve their dreams of parenthood, Meaghan finds great fulfillment in seeing the end result—when a family is finally complete. Outside of work, she enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with her two daughters.

Kody Keirsey is the Intake Coordinator at Surrogate Steps and the friendly, compassionate voice guiding women through the very first steps of their surrogacy journey. Based in Yuba City, California, Kody helps prospective surrogates understand the process, answers their questions, and supports them as they complete their initial application. As a former surrogate herself, Kody brings deep empathy and firsthand understanding to every conversation. Her background in Early Childhood Development strengthens her ability to connect with surrogates and intended parents alike, offering both knowledge and care in equal measure. Kody’s own surrogacy experience was life-changing—teaching her resilience, selflessness, and the profound power of helping others become parents. She loves being part of a team that turns dreams of parenthood into reality and finds joy in building genuine connections along the way. Outside of work, Kody enjoys spending time with her family, singing, spending time in nature, and practicing grounding activities that help her stay centered and compassionate in her work every day.

Whitney Holt is one of our dedicated Journey Coordinators and a proud two-time surrogate. With a background in labor and delivery as a surgical technologist for over nine years, Whitney brings deep expertise and compassion to the surrogacy journey. Her personal experience as a surrogate, along with a lifelong love of pregnancy and a passion for helping families grow, shapes everything she does. In her role, Whitney supports surrogates and intended parents from the moment they match, guiding them every step of the way. She coordinates medical appointments, legal clearances, and agency communication, while offering emotional support and helping to build trust and connection between all parties. Her warmth and dedication ensures that every surrogate and family feels heard, supported, and celebrated throughout the process. Whitney’s surrogacy journeys left a lasting impact. The bond she formed with her intended parents grew so strong that they now feel like family. Seeing the intended parents’ faces light up the moment they met their daughter reaffirmed Whitney’s belief in the power and beauty of this work. She now strives to bring that same joy to every journey she helps coordinate. Outside of Surrogate Steps, Whitney enjoys crafting, especially making custom baby nursery signs. Whether she’s helping parents fulfill their dreams or cheering on a fellow surrogate, Whitney is here with a big heart and a steady hand, ready to help you on your path to parenthood.

Samantha Wyant is one of our incredible Journey Coordinators. She is a mother, an experienced surrogate, and holds a degree in Journalism from Indiana University Bloomington. Samantha’s background in communication and her deep-rooted passion for helping others shine through in her role of supporting both gestational carriers and intended parents. Samantha works closely with families to ensure their journeys move forward smoothly, checking in with parents and surrogates and coordinating every step of their journey. She’s a constant source of reassurance and guidance for everyone involved, and her attention to detail and heartfelt care make her a vital part of each surrogacy story. Samantha’s strong belief that everyone who wishes to be a parent deserves the chance to be one. Her own journey fulfilled a dream for her intended parents and transformed her life. Samantha is passionate about walking alongside others through this deeply personal journey. She loves witnessing the joy on the faces of intended parents when their dream finally becomes a reality, and she considers it a true privilege to be part of that special life-transforming moment. Outside of work, Samantha loves traveling, coordinating trips, and spending time with her family. She brings a compassionate, experienced, and thoughtful approach to everything she does, and is ready to help you through every step of your surrogacy journey.

Michelle is a mother to five, a 3-time surrogate, and our amazing Parent Coordinator. Michelle is a Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) with over experience working in the emergency department, infertility field, and surrogacy since 2005. As our Parent Coordinator, Michelle is the primary contact for parents throughout their Journey and works with each parent closely to ensure the smoothest journey as possible. Given Michelle’s extensive medical background, Michelle also performs initial reviews of surrogate medical records to ensure all of our surrogates meet the highest standards, even prior to receiving official medical clearance from the parent’s fertility clinic. As a mother and repeat surrogate, Michelle is incredibly passionate about her work. She takes great pride in what she does and absolutely cherishes the moment she gets to see each and every parent hold their precious child.