Questions Indented Parents Should Ask Surrogacy Agencies

Deciding to pursue surrogacy is a profound and personal milestone. Once that decision is made, the next challenge is equally important: finding the right agency to guide you through it. Knowing the right questions to ask a surrogacy agency makes all the difference in how prepared and protected you feel throughout the process.

At Simple Surrogacy, we welcome every question because we believe that informed intended parents make the best partners on this journey. Here is what you should be asking before you sign anything.

Questions to Ask a Surrogacy Agency: Where to Begin

Before getting into specifics, it helps to understand what you are actually evaluating. A surrogacy agency is not just a matchmaking service. It is a coordinator, an advocate, a support network, and a guide through one of the most emotionally and legally complex processes you will ever navigate.

Our surrogates are carefully vetted and matched, but the agency infrastructure behind that matching is what truly determines the quality of your experience. Use these questions as your framework.

How Long Has Your Surrogacy Agency Been in Business?

Experience matters enormously in this field. An agency with a long track record has navigated complications, built relationships with medical and legal professionals, and refined its processes over time. Simple Surrogacy has been operating since 2002, giving us over two decades of hands-on experience in the industry.

We hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and our reputation within the surrogacy community speaks to the consistency of our care. Ask any agency you are considering how long they have been operating and what their track record is.

Does Your Surrogacy Agency Work in Other States and Countries?

Your agency needs to be equipped to work with you, regardless of where you live. This is especially relevant for international intended parents, who face additional logistical and legal complexities. We have a proven track record of working with clients from over 20 countries.

We offer translators fluent in languages including Japanese, Korean, Hebrew, Spanish, and French to facilitate meetings and phone calls with surrogate mothers. If you are coming from outside the United States, ask specifically how the agency handles international arrangements and what timeline you can expect.

Are Surrogate Mothers Pre-Screened, and What Does That Include?

Screening standards vary significantly between agencies, and this is one of the most important areas to investigate. Rigorous screening protects everyone involved. At Simple Surrogacy, prospective surrogates undergo thorough medical screening, criminal background checks, financial screening, and mental health evaluations.

Only two in ten applicants are accepted into our program. Surrogates who take medication for depression or anxiety, or who show any psychological concerns during evaluation, are not accepted. When you work with us, you can trust that your match has been vetted with genuine care.

How Long Will It Take to Find a Surrogate Match?

Matching timelines vary across agencies depending on the size of their surrogate database and the specificity of their match criteria. This is worth asking about directly and pushing for a realistic answer.

We maintain a large database of pre-screened, available surrogates, which allows us to offer matching timelines that are considerably shorter than the industry average. Intended parents are often pleasantly surprised by how quickly the process can move once they are enrolled.

Is Your Agency a Member of Any Professional Organizations?

Membership in recognized fertility and surrogacy organizations signals that an agency is committed to staying current with standards, guidelines, and best practices. For example, we are a member of RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, and adhere to the guidelines of both the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. These memberships reflect an ongoing commitment to ethical, informed practice.

Does the Agency Provide Legal Services to Intended Parents?

Legal representation is a non-negotiable part of the surrogacy process. Contracts must be properly drafted, parental rights must be established, and the legal landscape varies significantly from state to state. Intended parents deserve an agency with strong legal partnerships.

We work with experienced attorneys in every state where surrogacy is legally supported. Married couples in Texas also have access to our Legal Included Program, in which a partner attorney guides you through the entire legal process at no additional charge.

Is the Money Paid to the Surrogate Held in Escrow?

Financial transparency and security are essential. Intended parents should never be in a position where their funds are commingled with agency operating costs. Reputable agencies hold surrogate-related funds in a separate escrow account.

We hold all such funds in FDIC-insured, independently managed escrow accounts, and we provide monthly itemized statements to all clients. There are no additional fees charged for this service. Ask any agency you consider how they handle escrow and request specifics about how funds are tracked and reported.

Is Someone Available to Answer Questions Around the Clock?

The surrogacy process does not follow a nine-to-five schedule. Questions arise at all hours, and concerns do not wait for business hours. Ask any agency whether you will have access to a real person whenever you need one.

At Simple Surrogacy, skilled and experienced coordinators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You also have direct access to our agency owners at any time. That level of availability is not standard across the industry, and we are genuinely proud of it.

Choose Your Agency With the Answers, Not Just the Promises

The right surrogacy agency will welcome every question you bring and answer each one with transparency and specificity. Vague reassurances are a red flag.

Concrete answers backed by a verifiable track record are what you are looking for. Simple Surrogacy has been answering these questions honestly for over two decades, and we are ready to answer yours, too.

Get in touch with our team and ask us anything.

FAQs

Can international intended parents work with a US-based surrogacy agency?

Yes. We regularly work with clients from over 20 countries. We offer translator services for phone calls and meetings in multiple languages. The team is also experienced in managing the additional legal and logistical steps that international arrangements require.

What happens if a surrogate match does not work out?

Rematching is a normal part of the process and is included at no additional cost at Simple Surrogacy. Our large database of pre-screened surrogates means we can move forward with a new match without lengthy delays.

Do intended parents pay additional fees for escrow management?

No. Simple Surrogacy manages escrow through FDIC-insured independent accounts and provides monthly itemized statements to all clients. There are no additional fees for this service, and funds are never mixed with the agency’s operating costs.