How to Choose the Right Surrogacy Agency
The road to parenthood is full of big decisions. One of the first is choosing your surrogacy agency. Whether you’re an intended parent or potential surrogate, it’s important to select an agency that’s easy to work with and capable of managing the financial, legal, physical, and emotional components of surrogacy. As you explore different options, here are six things to consider.
Research The Surrogacy Agency’s Reputation
You wouldn’t buy a home without first seeing it, conducting a home inspection, and exploring the neighborhood. Similarly, you don’t want to sign with a surrogacy agency before checking out their reputation and success rate.
For each agency you consider, research their embryo transfer success rate, the average time it takes to match intended parents with a surrogate, and what others have to say about working with the agency.
Part of that research should include a free consultation with an agency representative. During that call, ask the agency:
- How long have you been in business?
- What states do you work in?
- What is the average time it takes to match a surrogate and intended parents?
- How are initial matches between a surrogate and the parents made?
- Do you have any parents who used your services that I could talk to about their experience?
Clarify What Services They Offer
An agency’s role involves much more than matching a surrogate with parents-to-be. A good agency helps coordinate the legal process to establish parental rights, offers emotional support throughout the pregnancy, and negotiates any financial concerns so the intended parents can focus on preparing for the baby’s arrival.
Plus, some agencies offer related services, such as fertility consultations and egg donation. Having multiple fertility services in one agency makes the process easier, as does working with a surrogacy agency who offers in-house support or can connect you with the right partners, such as a trusted law firm or mental health support group.
Before signing a contract with an agency, clarify what services they offer—and that those services align with your needs.
Find Out About their Pre-screening
Surrogacy isn’t transactional. It’s a journey the surrogate, intended parents, and their loved ones go on together. The surrogacy agency plays a role, even before you choose them, via a pre-screening process.
At Accel Conceptions, we screen surrogates to ensure their mental and physical health is suitable for carrying a pregnancy to term. Before screening starts, we have basic requirements candidates must meet:
- Between the ages of 21-38
- Have given birth to at least one child with no major complications during pregnancy and/or delivery. They also must have full custody of the child.
- Have no more than 3 deliveries via c-section and 5 births total
- Tobacco, drug, and alcohol-free with no criminal history
- Be communicative, responsible, and dependable
- Healthy lifestyle with a stable support system
- Be a US Citizen or permanent resident
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 32
Plus, we offer generous compensation packages to surrogates which includes financial and mental support. Whether you are a surrogate or intended parents, look for an agency that carefully selects surrogates and compensates and supports them fairly throughout.
Ask About The Process
A surrogacy agency’s process can make or break your experience. Before deciding on an agency, ask about their process for prep work, matching, and offering support during the pregnancy. Accel Conceptions has spent over two decades fine tuning our process, which can be a blueprint of what to look for.
Preparation
Before searching for the right match, we offer a free consultation for parents-to-be and surrogates. This consultation is a time to ask any questions about the fee structure, what to expect when you work with our agency, and potential timelines. For surrogates, there are additional screening measures in place to ensure you’re a good candidate.
After, your case manager will help you complete any necessary documents and set up your profile. When necessary, we also aid intended parents in finding an IVF clinic or egg donor.
Matching with a Surrogate
After the preparation is complete, we move onto the exciting part: matching a family with their surrogate. At this point, we’ll also set up a trust account, which is where you’ll deposit any payments throughout the process.
The first deposit covers the cost for a psychological evaluation and medical screening. While we’ve already screened the surrogate at this point, this is an extra check to ensure the surrogate is the right fit.
Once the evaluation is complete, we’ll draft the surrogacy contract. This document outlines compensation and expenses, life insurance, medical insurance, parental rights, location of delivery, medical decisions during the pregnancy, and more. Once all parties agree on the contract, legal clearance will be sent to your IVF clinic and the trust account will be funded.
The first deposit covers the cost for a psychological evaluation and medical screening. While we’ve already screened the surrogate at this point, this is an extra check to ensure the surrogate is the right fit.
Once the evaluation is complete, we’ll draft the surrogacy contract. This document outlines compensation and expenses, life insurance, medical insurance, parental rights, location of delivery, medical decisions during the pregnancy, and more. Once all parties agree on the contract, legal clearance will be sent to your IVF clinic and the trust account will be funded.
Transfer and Pregnancy
Your chosen IVF clinic will handle the embryo transfer, medications, and weekly blood work during the first four weeks of pregnancy.
Throughout the pregnancy, a surrogate will continue taking medications, as per the doctor’s instructions, and attend regular check-ups to make sure the surrogate mother and baby are healthy.
Around the 16 to 18 week mark, your lawyer will draft the documents for the pre-birth order/ judgment process. This process establishes parental rights and ensures your name goes on the birth certificate.
Make Sure They Are Transparent
Partnering with a surrogacy agency is a big commitment. Like any good relationship, it should be rooted intrust and transparency. And this transparency is especially important when it comes to cost.
A reputable agency will be upfront about the investment and answer any financial questions you have openly and candidly. Typically, surrogacy costs start around $150,000. This estimate includes:
- Agency fee
- Trust account management fee
- Psychological screening fee
- Legal fees for contract and parental rights establishment
- Surrogate base compensation
- Monthly allowance for surrogate
- Health insurance and life insurance for surrogate
- Embryo transfer fee
- Maternity clothing
- Medical costs (co-payments for OB appointments and delivery）
Like the rest of your surrogacy journey, cost is personal. An agency should provide an estimate customized to your situation before you agree to work with them.
Notice How They Communicate
An agency’s communication style says a lot about how easy they will be to work with. When speaking with different surrogacy agencies, notice how they communicate. Are they easy to speak with and responsive? Do you leave conversations with more or fewer questions about the process? How comfortable do you feel discussing your concerns?
Surrogacy is a wonderful journey, and you deserve an agency who can support and guide you throughout. If you’re ready to start the surrogacy agency search, Accel Conceptions offers a complimentary consultation. In these calls, we provide a more detailed overview of the process and answer any questions you may have. Book your consultation today.
Surrogacy is a wonderful journey, and you deserve an agency who can support and guide you throughout. If you’re ready to start the surrogacy agency search, Accel Conceptions offers a complimentary consultation. In these calls, we provide a more detailed overview of the process and answer any questions you may have. Book your consultation today.