Questions to Ask When Choosing a Surrogacy Agency

Selecting a surrogacy agency to partner with on your path to parenthood is a big decision, and the agency you select will have a major impact on your overall experience. It is important to do your research, ask any questions, and feel like you are equipped with all the information you require before proceeding so that you can feel confident and supported through each stage of the process. There is no guarantee with any part of this process, however the goal is to set your family building journey up for success.

When choosing a surrogacy agency to help grow your family, here are some questions you should ask:

Ask the agency about their history and level of experience.

The length of time an agency has been successfully managing surrogacy cases does not guarantee that there will be no speed bumps along the way; however, it can give you a little peace of mind knowing that they have successfully managed various types of cases and they are equipped to successfully advocate for you along the way. Be sure to ask the agency how long they have been in business, how many families they have helped, and how they have grown over the years. It is also important to ask if they have reviews from prior clients. Reputation matters and you can learn a lot from other people’s experiences that are documented.

Ask for a full list of services they provide.

A surrogacy agency should not only play the “match-maker”, but they should have a level of support and management throughout the pregnancy. It is important to understand all the resources the agency has to offer to you throughout your journey, not just at the matching phase.

Larger agencies will have more of a full-service approach, providing case management, legal referrals, psychological support and peer to peer support groups with other Intended Parents. Having a group of people to help support and advocate for you throughout the process is the key to success.

Here are some things to ask the agency if they can provide you:

• Assist with scheduling the surrogate’s fertility clinic and OB appointments, and attend them with her should the physician/medical office allow.
• Handle the financial conversations between the intended parents and surrogate. The goal is for you and your surrogate to build a healthy relationship and let the professionals handle the rest.
• Manage the communication with the attorney regarding parentage documents to ensure everything stays on track once the surrogate is pregnant.
• Provide support with the surrogate’s insurance and ensure things are processed appropriately and without issue.
• Offer psychological support referrals to all parties throughout the process to ensure everyone is comfortable.

Understand the screening process for both Intended Parents and surrogates

Ask what steps are required for an intended parent to be accepted into the program, as well as understand the screening process timeline, a breakdown of the fee schedule, and how the escrow account works for the payments. Ask for a timeline of all steps and how long each step can take - the more information you have on what to expect, the better prepared you will be with starting step one.

What is their process for introducing a potential match

What pre-qualifying have they done on the surrogate to ensure she matches with your unique criteria? Who receives the other’s profile first? What happens if you like the profile? It is also great to understand how long it can take to potentially match with a surrogate candidate.

The more questions you can ask ahead of time the better prepared you and your expectations will be. However, if you are quoted a timeline or an actionable item it is always OK to follow up with the agency to ensure your journey stays on track!

Make sure they are upfront about agency fees and surrogacy compensation

Ask the “all-in” cost question. Our advice is always to have your fertility attorney review any agency agreement prior to you signing to ensure everything is clear and your best interests are at the forefront. Ask about all the costs, even the items not included in any package they may offer you. It is always best to account for it all ahead of time. When you are presented with a surrogate profile it is important to ask what her compensation is, what her lost wages work out to be hourly, weekly and if there are any travel expenses, childcare or partner/spouse lost wages. The more you can budget the better.

Is escrow handled in-house or with a third party

The escrow account that pays the compensation to the surrogate should always be through a licensed 3rd party or your fertility attorney’s office. This is done to ensure there are no errors in any payments and to ensure all payments are valid and verified. If the agency has their own in-house escrow service, ask if they are ok with your fertility attorney holding escrow to ensure the financial aspects are protected and secure.

 A surrogacy journey is full of ups and down, and we are here to advocate for you and ensure you are partnered with a respected and reputable agency. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at shelly.marsh@springfertility.com - I would be honored to guide you down the path of growing your family! Here is a downloadable PDF of all of the surrogacy agency partners who we currently work with.