So, you’ve decided to start your journey to becoming a surrogate mother? Congratulations! You are about to embark on an incredible journey that we guarantee will be unbelievably fulfilling. You are helping a couple create a family and you’re earning for your own future. This is a win win scenario and one of the most incredible things you can do for another couple. [source]
Now, most likely, your next decision is which surrogacy agency are you planning on having represent you.
Embarking on your surrogate journey transforms lives—both yours and the intended parents waiting to build their family through your incredible gift. But finding the right agency to support this life-changing experience isn’t just about comparing websites. [source]
It’s about partnering with professionals who understand your unique needs, provide unwavering support, and guide you through every step with expertise gained from years of successful journeys. After helping hundreds of surrogates find their perfect agency match, I’ve learned that asking the right questions early makes all the difference.
Key Takeaways
- Choose an established agency with at least a decade of experience and numerous successful matches to ensure they can navigate any situation that arises during your journey.
- Look for comprehensive services including legal support, medical coordination, and full transparency about compensation packages beyond just the base pay. [source]
- Request to speak with previous surrogates who’ve completed journeys with the agency to get authentic insights about their experience.
Asking the Right Questions
Chances are you have already shortlisted a few local Florida, or out-of-state surrogacy agencies and now you have the dilemma of choosing the one that is right for you. While we can not make that choice for you, we would like to list some helpful questions you should be asking:
Experience and Track Record
- “How long has your agency been established?” – It might sound like a commonsense question, but it is important to find out just how long the agency you are speaking to has been in business. With the increasing number of surrogacy agencies opening each year, it is important to find one that has been established for some time, at least a decade, as they more than likely will have the experience you are looking for. In an industry where new agencies appear regularly, experience matters tremendously. Look for agencies with at least 10 years of successful operations.
- “How many successful surrogate matches have you facilitated?” – Similar to the first question, working with an experienced surrogacy agency is going to benefit you throughout your surrogate journey as they would have seen many different situations and should be able to adapt to yours. If an agency has been in business for some time and has a lot of experience matching surrogate mothers with intended parents, that is a good sign they are an agency you may like to work with. Numbers tell a story. Agencies with hundreds of completed journeys have encountered virtually every scenario and developed systems to handle challenges smoothly.
- “Can you share success stories from previous surrogates?” – While maintaining privacy, reputable agencies should have testimonials or be willing to discuss previous journeys. While most surrogacy agencies won’t share the surrogate stories publicly, it is important to ask about these when meeting with the various agencies. This helps you better understand the surrogacy journey you are about to begin, while always allows you to learn more about the agency you are about to work with.
Comprehensive Services
- “What specific services do you provide beyond matching?” – Top agencies offer end-to-end support including legal representation, medical coordination, and emotional support throughout your journey. Most of the surrogacy agencies in Florida, and throughout the United States will work with you to match you with the intended parents, but not all of them will offer comprehensive services along with it. These services can include guidance, pairing you with an experienced lawyer to assist in the necessary paperwork, providing medical insurance, facilitating the gestational surrogacy and more.
- “How do you handle communication between surrogates and intended parents?” – Clear communication protocols prevent misunderstandings and build stronger relationships.
- “What happens if complications arise during the journey?” – The agency should have established protocols for every potential scenario.
Compensation Transparency
- “Can you provide a detailed breakdown of the compensation package?” – Beyond base compensation, understand coverage for medical expenses, maternity clothing, travel costs, and potential complications. Most surrogacy agencies will talk a lot about compensation, but they avoid going into detail as to what that really means. When it comes to surrogacy, in addition to the base compensation, what you are being paid for being a surrogate mother, there are many other areas where you should be compensated for. This includes medical costs, psychological support, transfer fees and more (you can see an example of surrogacy compensation details here). It is always important to understand the full picture and, when selecting an agency to work with, this is something they should be providing to you.
- “How and when are surrogate payments distributed?” – Payment schedules should be clearly defined and guaranteed.
- “Is there compensation for special circumstances?” – Ask about multiples, bed rest, C-sections, or other scenarios that may affect your journey.
References and Support
- “Can I speak with surrogates who have completed journeys with your agency?” – Direct conversations with former surrogates provide invaluable insights.
- Similar to the above question, it is always important to ask for references. No one is going to understand your situation as well as someone who has recently completed their surrogacy journey with the agency you are talking to. By getting references, and being able to speak with other surrogate mothers, you should be able to ask a lot of additional questions.
- “What kind of support team will I have throughout my journey?” – Understand who your points of contact will be and their availability.
- “How do you screen and select intended parents?” – Learn about their vetting process to ensure good matches.
While no one can tell you which agency is the best one for you, by asking the questions provided in this article, and asking some of your own, you should be able to gain enough information to make an educated decision. At Creative Love Surrogacy Agency, we work with surrogate mothers in Florida and throughout the United States by providing surrogate support and guidance along each step of the surrogate process. If you are interested in learning more about what makes our agency different, or if you just have a question and would like to speak with an experienced specialist, we welcome you to contact us or call us at 954-776-9878. We look forward to speaking with you!
Wendy Arker entered the field of infertility with a huge heart and passion to guild others on their quest to grow their own family after her personal journey with infertility and turning to egg donation and sperm donation to create her own family. Being a single-mother-by-choice, Wendy understands firsthand the unique way families are built. Whether you’re a married couple, single, or LBGTQ, Creative Love is committed to assisting you.
