After struggling with the dilemma of parenthood, you finally made up your mind for surrogacy. You have talked with your friends and relatives and understood the basics of the surrogacy process and decided it is the right choice for you. Now, when you have taken the decision to give a chance to surrogacy and bring your child into the beautiful world, the next step (the most crucial) is to select the surrogacy agency.
The surrogacy professional you choose to work with is as important as the surrogate you have picked or will pick. Choosing the best surrogacy agency is the first sure step to ensure a healthy, safe, and legal surrogacy.
With increasing awareness of surrogacy, you can now find plenty of surrogacy agencies that are ready to work with you and promise you the future you have always dreamt of i.e. a healthy baby.
But Among So Many Agencies, How Do You Select The Perfect One?
Before committing to a surrogacy agency, both intended parents and the surrogate must carefully analyze their options and learn about the individual offerings and services of every agency.
There is a certain set of questions or criteria that you must ask from the surrogacy professional. This will help you in separating the best from the rest. So, without much ado, let’s look at the top 7 questions you must ask from your surrogacy agency.
7 Questions To Ask From Your Surrogacy Agency
Q1. How Many Years Have You Been In Business?
While surrogacy is comparatively a newer industry and is still evolving, there are some surrogacy agencies that have been in the business for quite a long time now. Therefore, they have rich experience in conducting surrogacy and handling the risks and complications that may arise during the process.
You must ask your surrogacy professional – how many years they have been in the business? How many clients have they taken? What has been the average success rate of the previous surrogacies completed by them? The best surrogacy agency will sit and delightfully explain to you the history of their agency, the success rate, etc.
Q2. How Does the Screening Process Work?
The screening process i.e. how are surrogates screened is an important criterion when selecting the best surrogacy agency. The best agencies ensure that all parties involved in the surrogacy are well-informed of the process. They not only need to be educated but a proper process must be followed to mentally, physically, and emotionally prepare them for the journey.
The prospective surrogates, as well as the intended parents, must be screened medically and also a criminal background check should be run to ensure they are safe to work with.
Q3. What Types of Legal Services are Provided?
Surrogacy involves several legal formalities and compliances. While not all surrogacy agencies have an in-house surrogacy attorney, the best surrogacy agency can provide valuable referrals to the prospective parents.
You must inquire about the role and degree of involvement of the agency with you and your attorney. Whether the cost of referring an attorney is included in the overall agency cost or not?
Whether they will continually assist you and serve as a bridge between intended parents and surrogates, or you will have to handle the legal paperwork on your own. The legal matters of surrogacy need to be handled with care and diligence.
Q4. What is the Agency Fee?
When you’re an intended parent considering surrogacy, this becomes an obvious and important question to ask. The reputable surrogacy agencies will have a transparent cost system and will explain every bit of the cost structure explicitly. If the agency gives a vague and unclear response to surrogacy costs, then it is an alarming sign for you.
Surrogacy cost also depends upon the case management and additional services offered by the agency. So, if you are paying more, ensure that you are getting more services. You must not make your decision solely based on costs. Look for the agency that is offering you more value through better and unique services.
Q5. What Services are Offered to the Intended Parents and Surrogates?
Different agencies can offer different surrogacy services. While the basic process and protocols remain the same, there may be additional services that some agencies provide while others don’t. For example, some agencies may provide matching services, others might not. Some may have in-house surrogacy attorneys, some may not.
The best surrogacy agency will be the one that serves as the one-stop destination for your surrogacy needs. Asking this question will help you match your surrogacy goals and preferences with the services offered by the agency.
Q6. How Will the Surrogacy Process Work?
The surrogacy process is almost the same across all agencies. From the initial screening of the prospective surrogates to matching their profile with the right intended parents, the process is the same. However, there are some factors that may differ from agencies to agencies.
For example, whether the agency lets you work with an independent surrogate or not. Or, what is the level of involvement required from your side in the surrogacy process. Will you be able to meet and get acquainted with the surrogate?
Q7. Are Support Services Offered To The Surrogate and The Intended Parents?
When you choose to work with a surrogacy agency, you invest more than 10-12 months of your life in the process. You might face some doubts and apprehensions during the process. You may have to deal with disappointments, risks, and legal complications as well. The best surrogacy agency will simplify the process for you. They will be with you at every step of the journey.
The best surrogacy agency is the one that actively participates with you to help you fulfil your dream of parenthood. They not only guide you through the process but walk every step with you, so you are never alone. By choosing the right surrogacy agency, you can ensure that you experience a fulfilling and memorable surrogacy experience.
Remember our set of questions and do pop them when selecting surrogacy agencies. Read More Informational Blogs.
