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Choosing an Agency

© Heather Weller

One of the first decisions anyone going through surrogacy - either as an Intended Parent or as a Surrogate - must decide is whether to proceed independently or through an agency. If you've chosen to go through an agency, the next big step is deciding which one. With the number of agencies out there growing regularly, it can be a difficult decision.

The first thing to consider is what you want from your agency. Are you looking for someone to be there to hold your hand and guide you every step of the way? Are you looking for a lawyer and agency rolled into one? Do you want simply want help finding a Surrogate or set of Intended Parents? The answers to these questions will help you narrow down your search.

Most surrogacy agencies (along with most everything else in life these days) are online; as you're reading this, I assume you have access to the internet as well - use this to you advantage. Find as many surrogate agencies online as you can and read what they say about themselves. Most will include their fees, their main policies, who they accept as surrogates, and what services they provide. Remember, too, especially in the area of fees and expenses, some agencies are more flexible than others and your individual circumstances might make your case vary slightly from what they present on their example pages.

After searching through the agencies online, you will find some just don't fit your personally for a variety of reasons. You will also, most likely, find several still in the running. This is a good time to request more information from them (most have this as an option from their webpage). When it comes, sit down and read everything they send you. This is what I did when I was searching for an agency, and some I knew instantly were not for me, just from the way they presented themselves in writing. I had it narrowed down to a choice I felt okay with when I got one last packet in the mail (they'd been on vacation when I asked for more info), and reading it, I instantly felt I'd found MY agency (for me, it was Growing Generations - http://www.growinggenerations.com ).

If after reading the materials, you're unsure of which agency is right for you, this is a great time to call and speak with the staff. This is an opportunity both to ask questions and to get a feel for how you'll be treated within the agency. Another tool I found especially handy was - again - the internet. I belong to a few surrogacy-related email lists where I asked if anyone had experience with the agencies I was considering. The responses helped me make my decision as well. If you don't belong to surrogacy email lists, there are also several web-based message boards related to surrogacy - try your inquiry there. Bear in mind, though, many people will prefer to contact you personally about their experiences (especially if they're negative), so leaving an email address is a good idea.