When it comes to choosing a surrogacy agency, it can be easy for Intended Parents to be overwhelmed by all the options available. There are many elements to consider, but most importantly, you’ll want to find an agency that you genuinely feel comfortable working with that can also provide solutions for your specific needs. 

However, finding surrogacy agencies that are a perfect fit for the experience you are hoping to have takes work. Your ideal agency match should not only reduce the stress of all parties involved, but also take into consideration things like the level of communication desired, personalities, and more.

Guiding Intended Parents through the process of selecting a gestational carrier agency is just one of the unique services that we handle for you at Surrogacy Simplified. Let’s walk through just a sample of the factors we might cover together when finding you that perfect match.

Evaluate Your Surrogacy Goals

Before going down the rabbit hole and starting your research, it’s good to sit down and really think about the type of agency you’d like to work with. You’ll want to write down your goals and expectations, review your finances, and evaluate your budget. 

Once you have a clear vision of what your ideal surrogacy journey looks like, as well as your priorities, you can start reaching out and getting connected with the right people who can support you in your unique goals.

Start Researching Potential Agencies

One way to begin choosing a surrogacy agency is by asking friends and/or family members for recommendations. Since you already have established trust with them, you may be able to speed up finding a surrogacy agency much more quickly if you take this route. This is what helped me land on my agency for my first personal surrogacy journey.

Next, you can turn to online reviews to really dig into what past clients really thought about their services. You’ll find out quickly if it’s the type of agency you want to get involved with.

Lastly, you’ll want to take into account every service the agency provides and if those services support your end goals and expectations. Once you have a short list of potential agencies, you can reach out to them to get more details and confirm everything you’ve already looked into.

Key Factors to Consider

Transparency

Jumping into a relationship with an agency when not being completely clear on their process is bound to create problems later down the line. There should be no grey area when speaking with an agency about any part of their process, including the cost of surrogacy. Watch out for agencies that only offer vague information about their experience, process, and/or fees.

Reputation and Experience

You’re not going to want to waste your time with agencies that aren’t great at what they do! Be sure to find out their success rate, how long they have been in the business, and ask for reviews or testimonials so you can get an honest feel for how both Intended Parents and surrogates feel about working directly with them. A lot of this information you can also find out online by doing a quick search, or you can reach out to the agencies directly and ask them to provide it to you.

Screening Process

This is an essential part of the surrogacy process that should not be taken lightly. The screening process should evaluate every aspect of the potential surrogate, and should go far beyond just physical health. 

Find out how the agency you’re researching is screening their candidates so you can be sure you’ll be meeting surrogates that are suited for you in all areas including expectations, communication preferences, and more. Having this information ahead of time will allow you to prevent potentially much larger issues later on in the process.

Connections to Legal Expertise

The legal process of surrogacy clearly needs to be involved when it comes to dealing with such a sensitive process, but they are also there to keep you safe. The surrogacy agency you select should be able to connect you with legal professionals that are able to explain the ins and outs of surrogacy contracts, help with custody transfers and more. That way, you never feel like you’re left in the dark. Before committing to any agency, be sure to talk to them about what type of legal support they offer.

Questions to Ask Surrogacy Agencies

Are you able to provide references or testimonials?

First and foremost, ask for references if possible from past surrogates and/or Intended Parents. Hearing personal stories from people who have actually already been through the full surrogacy process with them will likely sway your decision in one direction or another.

How many Intended Parents do you match with surrogates per year? How many Intended Parents is each case manager assigned?

Understanding these numbers will allow you to have accurate expectations going into the process so you’re not disappointed if things don’t work out as planned. It will also allow you to evaluate if you’ll be getting a more hands-on experience with your case manager.

What criteria do you use to select your surrogates?

Knowing what each surrogacy agency is prioritizing during their search will quickly allow you to see if you are both on the same page when it comes to what matters to you in the surrogacy journey.

What is your fee structure? Are there any other fees we should be aware of?

Being direct and asking this question right away will help clear up any confusion later down the line. Be sure to ask about and truly understand the fee structure so you know what you’re getting into financially from the start. This way you won’t run into any future surprises.

Above all, trust your instincts. If you’re not completely sure it will be a match, play it safe and continue on with your search. 

How long is the average surrogacy journey?

This is so important to ask because it helps set up realistic expectations if you decide to move forward with the agency. Surrogacy agencies can vary quite a bit in their length of time to match with a surrogate and length of journey from start to finish. It is important to match with an agency that has a waitlist length time that you are comfortable with.

Consider Working with a Surrogacy Consultant

As you can see, there is quite a bit of work that goes into researching and choosing the best surrogacy agency that fits your exact needs and values. However, finding your ideal agency is just one small step in your surrogacy journey.

We know that not every agency will be a perfect fit for you and your needs, which is why it’s important to understand the value of a surrogacy consultant and concierge. As your personal guide, we hold your hand through the entire process, ensuring that you have a smooth and seamless experience from start to finish. Not only do we connect you to agencies that match your top priorities, but we attend all meetings, take notes on your behalf, and ensure you are asking all the important questions to find the agency best suited for your needs. And the best part? We are with you for the entire surrogacy journey, ensuring you have continuity of care.

Ready to start your surrogate journey and connect with the best surrogacy agencies? Take the first step by booking your free consultation to learn more about working with a surrogacy concierge and streamlining your journey.