Starting your family through surrogacy is a huge decision. A reputable agency ensures your path to parenthood is protected from start to finish.
When you’re ready, we can walk you through how you’ll find your surrogate and how we protect your savings, so you can stop worrying about the “how” and start looking forward to the ‘”who.”
Fill out our simple form today to take the first steps.
What Does It Mean to Start Surrogacy with a Reputable Agency?
Surrogacy is a life-changing process, and having a professional that you can trust to be there when you need them is vital.
A reputable agency brings a “one-stop” approach to the table, providing the coordination required for managing:
- Thorough Screening Processes: A reputable agency thoroughly screens their surrogates before you ever see a profile. You shouldn’t have to wonder if a surrogate is ready; the agency should already know she is.
- High-Quality Matching: A reputable agency uses a national reach to find a match quickly that isn’t just “available,” but is the right fit for your specific family goals.
- Financial Transparency: Reputable agencies provide clear, upfront cost structures and risk-protection programs. You should never feel like you’re “rolling the dice” with your life savings.
For many intended parents, the decision to start surrogacy comes after years of navigating the emotional toll of infertility. Bekah and Gilad faced this exact reality with secondary infertility.
“I don’t know how long we would have been mourning the loss of not having another child,” Bekah says. “Surrogacy gave us hope through the entire time that we were trying to have this baby. We knew it could be done. It was just a matter of not giving up and finding the right people to help us.”
— Bekah and Gilad, Parents through Surrogacy. Watch their story below.
How to Get Started with Surrogacy: The 2026 Roadmap
The first phase is about getting your questions answered and making a plan We’ve designed our steps to help you move forward without unnecessary delays.
- Step 1: Get Started with American Surrogacy: Your journey begins by reaching out to our team to create a personalized plan that works for your budget and timeline.
- Step 2: Find the Best Surrogate Match Quickly: We help you create an Intended Parent Profile and utilize our national reach to find a surrogate who has already passed her medical and psychological evaluations
- Step 3: Medical and Legal Clearance: Once a match is made, your surrogate completes medical evaluations at your clinic while attorneys draft your surrogacy agreement.
- Step 4 Embryo Transfer: After the legal contracts are signed, the medical process begins, leading up to the exciting day of the embryo transfer.
- Step 5: Pregnancy and Welcoming Your Baby: Our specialists provide ongoing support throughout the pregnancy and help you prepare for the moment you welcome your child into the world.
Breaking Down Surrogacy Costs in 2026
We know the costs are a major factor in your decision. Surrogacy in 2026 costs $100,000 - $200,000+ on average.
Agency fees exist to fund the extensive screening, coordination, and support services that keep your journey on track and your surrogate well-cared for throughout the pregnancy.
We offer a Limited Risk Program designed specifically to act as a financial protection measure for our families.
Instead of fearing the “what ifs,” this program offers:
- Unlimited Matching: You don’t have to pay repeat agency fees if a match falls through.
- Fee Refunds: If the journey ends without a baby and you have no embryos left, you may be refunded certain fees.
- Financial Transparency: You will have a clear understanding of where your money goes, and how these costs help you become parents quicker.
Get a financial plan that protects your savings from day one. Learn more about what you’re paying for and our Limited Risk Program.
How Long Does Surrogacy Take?
Surrogacy takes time, usually 14 to 20 months, but we work to keep it as short as possible.
However, the surrogacy timeline and length can vary based on several factors, and we want to ensure you have a realistic expectation of the time involved.
Be wary of programs where matching takes 6 to 18 months; this often happens at other agencies due to limited outreach or matching parents too early in the steps to start the surrogacy process with an agency.
Get a better idea of what your journey could look like with our surrogacy timeline.
How to Find a Surrogate in 2026
Our goal is to help you find a surrogate who is a perfect match for your family’s values. We emphasize a 1 - 4 months match time because we focus on pre-screening all surrogates before they are even shown to you.
This means we have already reviewed her medical records and ensured she meets all physical and psychological requirements before she ever appears on your radar.
Once you find a surrogate you are interested in, we facilitate a connection to ensure the feeling is mutual before moving to the medical “all-clear”
Ensuring Your Surrogate is Protected and Supported
A reputable agency is defined by how it treats the woman carrying your child. When starting the surrogacy process with a reputable agency, ask about their surrogate support systems.
Our goal is for your surrogate to feel supported and respected.
We advocate for both of you to make sure the process is fair. This leads to a better relationship between you and your surrogate.
Legal and Medical Readiness: Preparing for the Transfer
The legal and medical clearance stages are the essential milestones that must be cleared before the physical process can continue. These phases begin immediately after the match is finalized.
- The Legal Phase: In the legal phase, both you and the surrogate will have your own attorneys when drafting your surrogacy contract. This provides the legal security you need to feel safe.
- The Medical Phase: After the contracts have been signed, your surrogate will start her specific medication protocol.
Once the clinic gives the medical “all-clear” and the legal contracts are signed, the embryo transfer can take place, marking the official start of the pregnancy phase in your guide to starting the surrogacy process with a reputable agency.
How to Evaluate if a Surrogacy Agency is Right for You
We want to give you unbiased insight so you can choose the best surrogacy agency for your specific needs.
- Does the agency fully pre-screen their surrogates before showing you a profile? A reputable agency should be able to prove they have already reviewed medical records, conducted background checks, and completed psychological clearances.
- What are their match times? A reputable national agency should be able to offer match times of 1 to 4 months. Longer wait times often indicate a struggle to reach and retain qualified surrogates.
- Does the agency offer financial protection? A reputable agency prioritizes your financial security by ensuring that a failed transfer or a broken match doesn’t force you to pay double to start over.
A balanced approach that prioritizes the health and happiness of everyone involved is usually the mark of a truly professional and ethical program.
The First Step: Reaching Out for an Initial Consultation
Knowing how to get started with surrogacy helps turn a complex dream into a manageable reality.
If you’re ready to match with a pre-screened surrogate in 1 - 4 months or simply need a clear breakdown of costs, fill out our form to connect with our specialists and get the clarity you deserve.