When you’re starting your surrogacy process, the first thing you have to do is choose a surrogacy professional to help you complete the process. If you know you want a professional to guide you through every step of your surrogacy, you’re probably interested in a full-service surrogacy agency.
But, how do you choose a surrogacy agency that’s right for you? Whether they’re called agencies, clinics, programs or companies, these professionals all offer similar services — which can make your decision difficult, especially if you’re still learning about the surrogacy process.
The best thing to do when deciding on a surrogacy agency or professional is to decide what’s most important to you — and then seek out a professional that meets those goals. As you do your proper research, you’ll discover which professionals are right for you and which ones are not.
Like many surrogacy professionals, American Surrogacy welcomes any questions from prospective intended parents or surrogates who are looking for a surrogacy agency. Whether you’re ready to start the surrogacy process or want to speak to us in more length about our surrogacy program, please call us today at 1-800-875-2229.
As you research prospective surrogacy agencies, here are some things that the best surrogate agencies have in common:
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Thorough screening process: When you enter into a surrogacy arrangement with an intended parent or surrogate, you are placing your trust in them and the professional you choose. Surrogacy can be a legally and emotionally complicated process, so top surrogacy agencies make sure to fully screen all prospective intended parents and surrogates to make sure they’re ready for the challenges of the surrogacy process.
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History of success: Surrogacy is still a fairly new field, so some surrogacy agencies will have a longer history than others. However, it’s important that the professional you choose can prove a track record of success with past surrogacies. If a surrogacy professional cannot refer you to past clients when you ask, that’s usually a sign to avoid working with them.
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Experienced legal counsel: Because surrogacy can be a legally complicated process, you will need a lawyer to protect the rights of all parties involved. The best surrogacy agencies can refer you to trusted, experienced surrogacy lawyers and will handle all legalities before the medical process of surrogacy even begins. If they don’t, or insist that the same lawyer can represent both parties, those are warning signs.
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Clear outlining of responsibilities and steps: If a professional doesn’t clearly list the responsibilities, expectations and steps of the process for all parties from the beginning, be wary. Surrogacy involves the coordination of several different professionals, and the best surrogacy agencies have honed their process to make it as efficient and safe as possible for all involved. If a professional doesn’t seem organized, you may want to look elsewhere.
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Support and availability: While many surrogacy agencies share the same positive characteristics, many intended parents and surrogates make their ultimate decision based on how they "feel" about an agency. This will be the professional you partner with for a year or more, so you'll want to make sure you feel comfortable, supported and appreciated by your surrogacy specialist. Look for an agency you have a connection with — one where you don't feel like just another number.
Because there are so many experienced surrogacy professionals out there, you’ll probably find several agencies or companies that meet these expectations. So, how do you decide between the best surrogate agencies to find the one that’s best for you?
Internet research can only get you so far, which is why all intended parents and prospective surrogates should contact a potential surrogacy agency’s professionals in-person or over the phone, if at all possible. This is an opportunity to not only learn more about a prospective surrogacy professional but also to get a feel for whether you are comfortable working with the surrogacy specialists at this agency. Even if a surrogacy agency fits all of your requirements, it may not be the perfect fit for you — and that’s okay. You are the only one who can ultimately decide whether or not a certain professional is right for you.
As you prepare to meet with an agency’s specialist, you may wonder what questions to ask a surrogacy agency. As you go through your research process, you will likely have questions that pop up — so make sure to take note of those for this meeting. Some good questions to ask are:
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How long have you been in business?
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What are your requirements for intended parents and prospective surrogates?
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What are the expenses for intended parents, and the compensation for prospective surrogates?
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How involved is your agency during each step of the surrogacy process?
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Which states do you work in?
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How are prospective surrogates and intended parents matched?
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What support and education services do you offer?
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What services will we need to obtain from another professional? Will you be able to refer us to professionals for those services?
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On average, how long does the surrogacy process take with your agency?
While these are a great list of questions to start, make sure to write down any additional questions you have that come up during conversations or afterward. Remember, you are never obligated to choose a surrogacy professional until you’re absolutely sure it’s the right one for you. Do your research, read surrogacy agency testimonials and reviews, and talk to as many professionals as you need to before you choose the agency or professional to work with throughout your surrogacy journey.
The specialists at American Surrogacy are always willing to answer whatever questions you have about our surrogacy process and help you determine whether our program is right for you. Please don’t hesitate to call our agency at any time at 1-800-875-2229 or contact us online today.