No matter what reason you have for not being able to be a parent, surrogacy gives you the opportunity to experience parenthood. We understand you’ve been waiting, maybe years, to be a parent. You don’t have to wait any longer.
Our short wait times mean you can find a surrogate match quickly and get one step closer to being a parent.
Talk to a specialist today and learn more about how to find the perfect surrogate.
How to Find a Surrogate in New York
You can find a surrogate in New York safely by working with a licensed agency that understands local laws. Partnering with a team that values transparency protects everyone involved, allowing you to focus on the excitement of growing your family. Although the average time to find a surrogate through unlicensed agencies can be as high as 2.5-4 years, we strive to provide the lowest wait times possible. You can take control and live out your dream of becoming a parent – why wait longer than you have to?
Intended parents share their confidence in our surrogacy screening.
Find Your Surrogate Match
Our matching process follows the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA) to ensure you and your surrogate are protected by a clear legal framework. While finding a carrier in New York can sometimes feel like a long wait, our local outreach helps you connect with a surrogate much sooner, allowing you to move past the uncertainty and focus on preparing for your child’s arrival.
Every family’s path is unique, but the process of finding a person you truly connect with generally follows these three thoughtful steps:
- Step 1: Intentional Matching. We use our surrogate outreach program to identify carriers who meet your medical and personal preferences. Beyond the basics, we look for a shared sense of values to ensure the partnership feels right from the start.
- Step 2: The Initial Conversation. Once we find a potential match, we’ll facilitate a guided call. This is a low-pressure way to get to know each other, discuss expectations, and see if the "vibe" feels natural before anyone commits to the next step.
- Step 3: Creating a Legal Foundation. After you decide to move forward together, we coordinate with experienced New York legal counsel to finalize your surrogacy contract. This step ensures the relationship is grounded in a mutual agreement that respects and protects everyone involved.
Finding a surrogate shouldn’t feel like a gamble. When you have a partner who understands the nuances of New York life and law, you can set aside the logistics and focus on the heart of the matter: the person who will help you bring your child into the world.
Get to Know Your Surrogate
Why Working With a Licensed New York Surrogacy Agency Matters
In New York, choosing a surrogacy agency is about more than finding a match—it is about ensuring every person in the process is protected and respected.
Since the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA) took effect in 2021, New York has become the only state requiring surrogacy matching programs to be licensed by the Department of Health. This regulation was established to prioritize the well-being of the surrogate and the security of intended parents through clear ethical and clinical standards.
Partnering with a licensed New York agency like American Surrogacy means working with a team committed to state-mandated transparency and financial safeguards. We manage the logistics and legal hurdles so you can focus on the human side of your journey, knowing your path to parenthood is built on these foundational protections:
- Independent Legal Representation: New York law requires separate, independent attorneys for intended parents and surrogates.
- Independent Escrow Management: For financial security, all surrogate compensation is held by an independent escrow agent.
- Support for Surrogate Health: A healthy journey begins with a supported surrogate. Licensed agencies ensure comprehensive health and life insurance is provided for 12 months post-birth, prioritizing her long-term well-being.
- Emotional and Medical Readiness: Every surrogate undergoes thoughtful screening to ensure she is physically and emotionally prepared, creating a stable environment for your future child.
How We Screen Surrogates in New York
We know how much you are looking forward to the joys of parenthood, which is why we focus on keeping wait times low without ever compromising on safety. Surrogate screening is a crucial part of that.
At American Surrogacy, we screen every surrogate fully before they match. This way, when you match with a surrogate, you know they are physically, emotionally, and psychologically ready to help you grow your family.
The Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA) makes New York one of the most secure and transparent places to build a family. We use these rigorous state-mandated standards as our baseline to protect everyone involved:
- Prioritizing health and safety: We follow ASRM and ACOG clinical guidelines to ensure every surrogate is physically prepared for a healthy pregnancy and long-term well-being.
- Emotional support and resilience: Every surrogate undergoes an independent psychological evaluation to ensure she is prepared and empowered for a healthy experience.
- Vetted for legal compliance: We verify New York residency and state eligibility early on to keep your legal path to parentage clear and prevent unexpected delays during the contract phase.
- Transparency and Rights: Trust is central to our process. We ensure every surrogate understands her New York legal rights, including her right to independent counsel and medical autonomy.
By handling the complex vetting and heavy lifting early, we allow you to focus on what matters most: building a relationship with your surrogate on a foundation of safety, honesty, and mutual respect.
When it comes to finding a surrogate, here’s how we quickly find you the perfect match:
Our 1:1 intended parents-to-surrogate ratio helps us successfully manage our intended parent list. This is one of the many ways we put your needs first so we can help you find a surrogate match. The internet has evolved into a tool that surrogates find agencies. Our network of websites reaches tens of thousands of people every month to help increase the chances of finding a surrogate in New York. When you work with us, you’ll know that the surrogate profiles you see have been extensively vetted so you know you’ll be working with the highest quality surrogates.
How Much Does it Cost to Find a Surrogate Mother in New York?
Intended parents explain how American Surrogacy saved them money.How to Have Financial Clarity
American Surrogacy costs depend on which program you choose, but typically range from $100,000 to $200,000+. We've designed 3 programs to help families who have a surrogate or need help finding a surrogate become parents faster.
- Independent Program: Designed for families who have a surrogate or plan to find one on their own.
- Foundation Program: Provides a lower upfront cost and traditional fee structure, it offers financial flexibility — but also places more risk on the family if a match falls through or the journey changes unexpectedly.
- Limited Risk Program: Our second full-service program with financial protection that avoids repaying many fees if something doesn't work out and makes budgeting more predictable.
We have a fee structure to help give you financial clarity as to what you’re paying for with our surrogate matching service and how that will lead to starting life with your child sooner.
This cost covers everything you need to find a surrogate in New York and will be paid in two installments. The first is due at activation, and the second is due when you find the perfect match.
The first installment is used for:
It’s as simple as this, the more marketing you have, the better chance you have of finding a surrogate. Higher marketing means shorter wait times while lower marketing means longer wait times. Our quick and efficient screening process to find the best surrogates includes social and medical history forms, in-home assessments and background checks, medical and psychological evaluations and insurance reviews.
How We Protect Your Time
We know how eager you are to begin building your family. You don't have to spend any more time waiting. Our staff is here to help you through every step of your surrogacy process.
How We Protect Your Investment
Creating your family through surrogacy is the investment of a lifetime. Our transparent fee structure is designed to give you peace of mind and confidence in knowing how our surrogate matching service uses those fees to end your wait and start you on the quickest path to parenthood.
Another way that we protect your investment is with our Parent Protection Fee, something other agencies don’t offer. The Parent Protection Fee refunds a large part of your investment in the event that the surrogacy is unsuccessful.
Our Limited Risk Program also covers unlimited matching for as long as you have embryos. Protecting your budget and the investment you’re making is as important to you as it is to us. We’re here for every step of your journey.
Learn More About Our Affordable ProgramsGet the Support You Deserve
Risks of Finding a Surrogate without a Licensed Agency
Finding a surrogate independently is a natural choice for many New York families seeking a personal connection. While social media makes "DIY" matching feel direct, New York’s strict legal landscape can often disrupt the process if not being handled by experienced professionals. Partnering with a licensed professional provides the legal security you need to focus on your child’s arrival rather than the nuances of state law.
Securing Your Legal Foundation and Avoiding Costly Delays
Your parental rights depend on the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA), but these protections require a contract with precise statutory language and strict execution protocols. Any omission can jeopardize your parentage in court.
Beyond legal risks, independent journeys often face "start-and-stop" delays. New York has some of the country’s strictest surrogate eligibility requirements. Without professional screening, intended parents often build emotional bonds with a surrogate only to find out she is ineligible under state law.
A licensed agency manages these complexities upfront. By the time you are introduced to a potential surrogate, she is already fully screened and legally qualified; ensuring your path to parenthood remains secure from day one.
Navigating the Process with Integrity and Accountability
New York’s strict regulation of "matching services" serves as a vital safeguard against exploitation. Many independent facilitators operate without a New York State license, meaning they are not subject to the state oversight or bonding requirements that protect your financial contributions.
Choosing a licensed, socially conscious agency creates a foundation of accountability through:
- Holding your funds in secure escrow accounts rather than unmonitored private accounts.
- Professional counseling and support for the surrogate throughout the pregnancy.
- Adhering to state-mandated protocols that unlicensed groups often bypass.
By prioritizing transparency and accountability, you protect every participant in the journey and ensure your path to parenthood remains ethically sound.
How Do I Find a Surrogate Near Me?
If finding a surrogate near you in New York is important to you, we have plenty of surrogate profiles we can show you.
But keep in mind that your preferences can directly impact how long you’ll wait to find a surrogate match. Being open to changing preferences, like being open to out-of-state surrogates, can lead to faster times to find the perfect match.
Fill out our form to learn more about the steps to finding a surrogate.
View Surrogate Profiles
Surrogate profiles are your first glimpse into the life of the woman who can help you become a parent. And you can start looking for the perfect surrogate match right now. Here’s a look at our active surrogates:
Next Steps After Finding a Surrogate
If you have embryos created with a fertility clinic already, then you’re ready to take the next step. Contact us to become that much closer to parenthood.
Once you find a surrogate in New York that you think could be the one, then your specialist will send their information to your fertility clinic. Once the clinic confirms she is able to be a surrogate, they’ll send your intended parent profile to her.
If she wants to know more about you, we’ll set up a zoom call for you both to get to know each other better. You don’t have to make a decision during this call but you can both ask each other questions you have about them or their profile. If you both come away from that call ready to move forward, you can make the match official.
If you do not have embryos created or a fertility clinic that you’ve partnered with, you need to do so before you can move on.
Fertility Clinics
- New Hope Fertility Center (New York City): New Hope Fertility Center offers a complete range of fertility and in vitro treatment services so that your journey to parenthood is streamlined, low-stress and as minimally disruptive to your life as possible.
- The New York Fertility Center (Flushing, New York City): As one of the first IVF centers established in Queens, New York, The New York Fertility Center has a reputation for successfully handling difficult cases and more common obstacles. They are the first IVF laboratory in Queens and completed the first “Band-aid” myomectomy in Queens, the first donor egg pregnancy in Queens and the first oocyte cryopreservation and successful pregnancy in Queens
- Genesis Fertility & Reproductive Medicine (Brooklyn, Forest Hills, Staten Island, Hewlett): The nationally renowned board-certified reproductive endocrinologists at Genesis Fertility & Reproductive have been listed among Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctors, New York Magazine’s list of Best Doctors and the New York Times SuperDocs.
Other Things to Know About Surrogacy in New York
The Child Parent Security Act legalized gestational surrogacy when it went into effect on Feb. 15, 2021.
It laid out protections and a path to parental rights for parents who used assisted reproductive technology (ART) to have children.
Surrogacy contracts, which had been void and unenforceable, were legalized so long as both parties met specific requirements. As an intended parent, you must:
- Have independent legal counsel
- Both be parties to the agreement (if you’re in a couple relationship)
As legal representation is a required part of the process when it comes to surrogacy contracts, here are some attorneys in New York you can reach out to:
- Talmud Law (Williamsville): Both parties in a surrogacy work with attorneys to draft, review, revise and sign surrogacy agreements before any related medical procedures begin. Talmud Law helps people looking to expand their families through gestational surrogacy.
- Law Office of Brian Esser PLLC (Brooklyn): As an adoptive father himself, Attorney and Owner Brian Esser can help you at every step of the way including drafting a gestational carrier agreement and obtaining legal parentage for the intended parents.
- Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP (Lake Succes, New York City): The attorneys at Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP are knowledgeable in the different laws and statutes of jurisdictions across New York State, as well as the different courts in which your proceedings may be handled, including Family Court, Surrogate’s Court and Supreme Court.
- Rumbold & Seidelman, LLP (Nyack): Rumbold & Seidelman is one of the leading New Jersey and New York firms with expertise in the highly specialized field of assisted reproduction law, especially gestational surrogacy.
FAQ About Finding a Surrogate
Is New York a Surrogacy-Friendly State?
New York is a surrogacy-friendly state thanks to the Child Parent Security Act that was passed in 2020. It provided protections for surrogates while laying out a straightforward path to establish parentage for parents who rely on surrogacy to have children.
Is it Hard to Find a Surrogate in New York?
No, it’s not hard to find a surrogate in New York. Our marketing reach, carefully managed lists and screening process mean you’ll find a surrogate match in an average of just 1 - 6 months.
Can I Find a Surrogate Online?
Yes, you can find a surrogate online but it comes with risk. You don’t know if the surrogate is being upfront about their situation and there’s even the potential of fraud, all of which can result in longer wait times to become a parent.
Not only do we make the process to find a surrogate faster than any other agency, we find the highest quality surrogates to work with thanks to our screening process.
Is Surrogacy Covered by Insurance in New York?
Yes, surrogacy is covered by insurance in New York. Insurance protections, and rights, for surrogate and intended parents, were also a result of the Child Parent Security Act. Insurance for intended parents covers financial losses if there’s a disruption to the process.
What is the Best Place to Find a Surrogate?
The best place to find a surrogate is with us. As a full-service, national surrogacy agency, not only do we work with surrogates across the country, we have all the services you need to complete your journey under one roof.
How Do I Find a Surrogate Mother for Free?
Although you can find your own surrogate for free by searching online or networking with family or friends, be careful. Without the support of a professional, your journey could become harder, riskier and slower.
Our all-encompassing screening process and short wait times offer you the quickest path to parenthood.
Can I Find a Surrogate Mother for a Gay Couple?
Yes, you can find a surrogate for a gay couple. We work with plenty of surrogates that would be happy to carry for you and can find the perfect match to meet your preferences.