Surrogates: How to pick an ethical Agency that can protect you

🌟 From Our Heart at Simple Surrogacy

At Simple Surrogacy, we’ve spent 24 years building a reputation rooted in trust, transparency, and unwavering support for our surrogate mothers. As a women‑owned agency whose founders are all either former egg donors or surrogates, we know what matters most: respect, empowerment, and integrity. We want to empower all surrogates, not just those that choose to work with us, on how to choose an Agency that is experienced and reliable and not committing fraud or deception.

1. Start with the Headlines—and Let Them Guide You

On July 16, 2025, heartbreaking news broke: in Arcadia, California, law enforcement removed 21 children—all born via surrogate mothers—after discovering a disturbing pattern of abuse and deception (YouTube, ABC7 Los Angeles). According to one surrogate, she’d been told the couple only planned to parent one child—but there were many more. Another expert noted, “these clinics…are not regulated by any governing body” (ABC7 Los Angeles). This scandal starkly underscores why you must partner with a legitimate, caring, and professional agency and to do your research and read reviews from other surrogates.

2. Licensing: Your First Line of Defense

Why it matters
A licensed agency operates under state regulations, adheres to thorough vetting practices, and maintains proper financial and legal safeguards.

What to ask

• Are you licensed for Surrogacy? NY State is currently the only state licensing Surrogate Agencies.
• Can you show me your license and regulatory compliance?

Simple Surrogacy’s edge
We hold all required licensing for New York State, and have been licensed since New York allowed it in 2021, ensuring full transparency with available documentation and oversight.

3. Experience: The Wisdom of Two Decades

Why reputation matters
An agency with years of solid experience understands complex medical, legal, and emotional landscapes. It’s more than longevity—it’s credibility.

What to check

• How long have you been operating?
• How many successful placements have you completed?

Simple Surrogacy’s record
With 24 years in the field, we’ve helped bring thousands of children into loving homes. That depth of experience equips us to guide surrogates through every stage—from matching to postpartum support. You can also be assured a company operating that long is running responsibly, helping real parents grow their families through Surrogacy and Egg Donation.

4. Community Support: No One Should Walk Alone

Why it matters
Surrogacy can be isolating. Peer support via private groups and personal contacts builds confidence and combs out red flags.

What to expect

• Do you have a private Facebook community or message board?
• Can I speak with other surrogates anonymously or directly?

Simple Surrogacy’s support network
We run private, moderated Facebook groups and facilitate direct connections so you can hear other surrogates’ stories—good and challenging—before committing. All of our coordinators are former surrogates through our program, so you can be assured your coordinator has walked in your shoes and knows the best ways to support and guide you.

5. Ownership & Leadership: Lived Experience Matters

Why it matters
Agencies run by women and former surrogates resonate differently—they understand the emotional, physical, and legal intricacies because they’ve lived them. Only women can know the joy and responsibility of carrying a child, so a women-owned agency is at a higher level than one run by a man, no matter how compassionate that man is, he can’t have experienced what you have in carrying a birthing a child.

What to look for

• Are any owners themselves former gestational carriers or donors?
• Is the agency women‑owned? How involved are the founders?

Simple Surrogacy’s foundation
All of our founders are women who come from within the surrogacy community. We don’t just manage from a distance—we’ve walked in your shoes. We are and always have been independently and all-women owned. We have shared your experiences and will guide and support you in ways only women can fully understand.

6. Professional Credentials: A Sign of Integrity

Why it matters
Credentials from established reproductive‑health organizations show an agency’s commitment to excellence and adherence to the highest standards.

Which credentials matter

• Membership in SEEDS (Society for Ethics in Surrogacy)
• Membership in RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association
• Participation on boards like Men Having Babies or Gays With Kids

Simple Surrogacy’s credentials

• Long‑standing member of SEEDS
• Active involvement with RESOLVE
• Agency owners serve on advisory boards for Men Having Babies and Gays With Kids

7. Transparency and Ethical Standards: Non‑Negotiables

Why it matters
Clear contract terms, complete financial breakdowns, and accredited legal counsel are the bedrock of a safe surrogate relationship.

What to ask

• Will I get a plain‑language overview of the contract?
• Do you provide independent legal counsel?
• How is compensation structured, and are funds escrowed?

Simple Surrogacy’s safeguards

• All contracts are reviewed with you and with independent counsel
• We ensure all funds are escrow‑protected and fully documented
• Owner ensures correct payment of funds and oversees escrow- not all agencies offer an escrow advocate to ensure you receive everything you are due.
• We conduct dual-role oversight—ethical, legal, and emotional support separated

8. Medical Oversight: Comprehensive and Compassionate

Why it matters
Meaningful medical care isn’t just about IVF—it’s also about ongoing physical and emotional health from referral through postpartum stages.

What to verify

• Do you partner with reputable fertility clinics?
• Are you handling bloodwork and screenings yourself?
• Is there mental‑health support before, during, and after pregnancy?
• How do you support and reward surrogates after delivery?

Simple Surrogacy’s standards
We partner with RESOLVE–approved clinics nationwide, and manage a full suite of testing, and offer counseling at every step of the journey.

9. Post-Birth Continuity: Staying by Your Side

Why it matters
Emotional needs continue after delivery. Agencies that lose contact may leave surrogates feeling unsupported.

What to ask

• Do you offer postpartum check‑ins or counseling?
• Are there alumni gatherings or support reunions?
• Can I continue to be in Facebook groups for your surrogates?

Simple Surrogacy’s ongoing care

• We schedule postpartum wellness check‑ins  and push gifts, and offer optional counseling
• Our alumni family keeps growing, with regular meet‑ups, virtual chats, and community events

10. Legal Clarity: Avoiding Ambiguity

Why it matters
Surrogacy involves sensitive legal territory—parentage, custody, rights, jurisdictions. A good agency helps you navigate it confidently.

What to confirm

• How are Surrogate’s rights and Intended Parents respected in light of local laws?
• Is there clarity about birth certificates and parental rights?
• Will I be named as the Child’s parent at any stage, how do you ensure IP’s rights?

Simple Surrogacy’s legal assurance
We coordinate with licensed attorneys in every jurisdiction, and each contract spells out parental‑rights timelines, what‑if scenarios, contingencies—nothing hidden or ambiguous. Surrogates are provided their own attorney to review the contract with them to ensure transparency and legality.

11. Crisis Preparedness: Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Why it matters
Even the most well‑planned matching can encounter complications such as medical emergencies, contract termination, or sudden relocation.

What to ask

• Do you have written crisis protocols?
• Is emergency funding or backup parenting support available?

Simple Surrogacy’s readiness
We maintain formal emergency protocols for medical or personal crises, plus emergency funds, backup care plans, and round‑the‑clock support access.

12. Real‑Life Stories: Authentic Voices

Why it matters
Marketing is fine—but you want unfiltered, honest feedback from past surrogates: happy, challenged, real.

What to request

• Do you share testimonials or references?
• Can I contact prior surrogates?

Simple Surrogacy’s transparency

• We provide referral contacts who’ve served as surrogates
• Our private groups are rich with peer‑to‑peer mentorship and candid sharing

In Summary: Your Checklist for Choosing the Right Agency

The Arcadia Scandal: A Stark Reminder

This July 2025 scandal wasn’t just a news story—it was a wake‑up call. When agencies operate without oversight—when founders are both clients and arbitrators, and when surrogate input is silenced—ethical boundaries bleed into questionable territory. And when the public awakens to root causes—where 15 to 21 children were living in abusive conditions amid secrecy and misrepresentation—it often starts with a breach of trust .

Look at Katie Elliot, a surrogate who said:

“These agencies, we’re supposed to trust them … only to find out this whole thing was a scam… that was not disclosed at all beforehand.” (ABC7 Los Angeles)

Let this be a reminder: you deserve honesty, empowerment, and respect. Choose an agency that wouldn’t let headlines like that happen here.

Why Simple Surrogacy Checks All the Boxes

1. Founded by surrogates and donors—we deeply understand your needs.
2. 24 years of proven experience, thousands of lives touched.
3. Fully licensed and ethically credentialed—SEEDS, RESOLVE, and board roles.
4. Transparent, independent counsel, escrowed compensation.
5. Robust support network—peer groups, alumni events, direct contacts.
6. Comprehensive medical and mental‑health support, pre through post.
7. Postpartum care and community—you’re never left behind.
8. Emergency protocols for sudden complications.
9. Voices you can trust—real references, real stories.

Final Thoughts 💛

Your choice of agency determines whether your surrogacy journey is empowering or exploitative, supported or neglected. The Arcadia scandal reminds us how murky the landscape can be—but it also highlights what ethical, professional, surrogate‑centered care should look like.

At Simple Surrogacy, we invite you to ask every question and demand every assurance. We promise clear answers, community, and the unwavering commitment to guide you every step of the way. Because surrogacy is more than a process—it’s a journey of courage, compassion, and love. And you deserve nothing less than the best.

Interested in learning more?
Contact us to request:

• A free consult
• Copies of our Licensing
• Access to past surrogate voices and private support groups
• Overview of our medical and counseling partnerships

We’re honored to stand with you—today, tomorrow, and always.

Simple Surrogacy – 24 years of expertise. Woman-owned, surrogate-led, ethically driven.