This week’s webinar
Having escrow set up to protect the surrogate and the intended parents is extremely important! Find out why and so much more in this week’s surrogacy webinar!About our guest
Our SurrogateFirst team is proud to introduce you to Denise Steele of SeedTrust Escrow – a major partner for the intended parents and gestational surrogates who work with us! As the leading technology-enabled escrow fund manager for third-party reproductive journeys that utilize surrogacy and egg donation, Denise of the SeedTrust team walks through the surrogacy escrow process and what to expect.The key points from the webinar
Why independent, well-managed escrow protects intended parents, surrogates, and agencies.Independent, specialized escrow is critical
Use a neutral third party even in family/friend matches. SEEDS Trust is fully independent (no agency or law firm ownership), providing neutrality and security.Strong financial safeguards
SEEDS Trust maintains a $40M bond on surrogacy funds—far above typical providers—to help protect client money in all scenarios.Managing vs. holding escrow
Managing = verify every disbursement against the contract, check receipts, prevent duplicates. Holding = simple pass-through, less oversight, higher risk.Full transparency, real-time access
24/7 online portal for IPs, surrogates, and agencies to track all transactions; multilingual support for international clients.Contract clarity before funding
Open escrow early; if the direct agreement isn’t signed yet, manage against the agency agreement. Define complex items (e.g., lost wages gross/net, proof of employment) with third-party reproduction attorneys.Dispute handling & off-contract items
Payments pause if a request isn’t covered by the contract. Escrow consults all parties and proceeds only with written approval or attorney guidance.Fast, reliable payments
Typical turnaround is within 2 business days after approval (fastest via direct deposit). International transfers may take longer due to receiving banks.Specialization over convenience
Keep roles separate: agencies coordinate, attorneys draft/review, escrow manages funds. Avoid in-house escrow when possible to reduce liability and strengthen safeguards.
