What this webinar is about
Intended parents are faced with the difficult task of researching surrogacy agencies with which to work alongside their families’ journeys. We hope to provide guidance and insight from experienced IP’s to share there tips on selecting an agency best suited for your needs and budget.
Intended Parent Perspectives: Selecting a Surrogacy Agency Agency & Staff History – who are they and what are their core values?
- Support – is staff available 24/7 for emergencies? What the level of support to IP & surrogate?
- Red Flags: why in-house lawyers and escrow are potential Red Flags?
- Screening Requirements – pre-qualification, why this is key!
- Cost Saving Tips – where to save and where not to skimp!
- Our webinar discussion will start off by discussing these key factors and move onto Q&A from the webinar audience.
Here is summary of the webinar
These items were covered in the second session but not (or only lightly) in the first.
Agency Leadership & Accessibility
- Founders are intended parents with personal surrogacy experience (multiple countries).
- 24/7 contact: after-hours calls can route directly to founders if coordinators are unavailable.
- Encourages knowing who the founders are and how to reach them.
Agency Story & Motivation
- Why SurrogateFirst was created: raise screening standards and reliability across the journey.
- Response to industry gaps (e.g., poor vetting, agencies disappearing post-signing).
- Commitment to a high ethical standard for both IPs and surrogates.
Financial Structure & Safeguards
- No match, no fee policy detailed: no deposit until medical records are approved and a match meeting is completed.
- Typical match timeline shared (about 4–6 weeks) and why.
- Clarity on when agency fees are due (before/after profile, etc.).
- Discussion of average surrogacy costs for budgeting.
- Guidance on escrow funding levels (e.g., 100–200% of estimated costs to cover contingencies).
OB/GYN & Hospital Choice
- When IPs may choose OB/hospital vs. using the surrogate’s established providers.
- Recommendation to deliver at hospitals with at least a Level II or III NICU.
Agency Agreement Review
- Strong directive to read the agency agreement thoroughly before signing.
- Specific clauses to check: rematch fees, surrogate withdrawal, pause policies, agency responsibilities.
- Have an independent attorney review the agreement.
Cost & Referral Ethics
- Agency states it receives no kickbacks from clinics, attorneys, escrow, or insurance providers.
- Referrals are based on quality and prior positive experiences, not compensation.
Escrow & Reimbursement Transparency
- IPs should review escrow receipts and reconcile expenses.
- Both escrow company and agency monitor reimbursements, but IP due diligence is still encouraged.
Check out the full interview
Our Ashley Mareko answers some of the top questions asked about how intended parents should go about selecting a surrogacy agency:
Have any questions? Reach out to our surrogacy team at any time.
