Once you’ve made the decision to become a gestational surrogate, you’ll need to find intended parents who are a good match for you. While some women may want to be a surrogate to help a family member or friend, others are looking to match with intended parents who are unknown to them. In the second scenario, there are two paths available to you. You may choose to find intended parents on your own or you may choose to work with an “agency” (also called a “matching program”). While the path you choose is up to you, you need to be aware of the responsibilities and realities of each option before deciding how to move forward.
Companies which assist potential surrogates and intended parents to find one another are often called “agencies” but, because they are not typically regulated by the state, they are more appropriately called “matching programs.” Certain surrogacy programs work within a particular geographic region while others work across the United States. Surrogates that work with matching programs receive the agency’s services free of cost. The matching program will conduct an initial screen to ensure that you understand the process and that your emotionally prepared for it. The matching program should also determine your personal preferences regarding the type of intended parents you’d be comfortable working with. While some matching programs just perform a preliminary screening before initiating the “matching process”, others will complete the entire medical evaluation process before doing that. There are no legal restrictions as to which matching programs surrogates may work with in New Jersey. By contrast, New York gestational carriers may only work with surrogacy matching programs licensed by the New York State Department of Health.
Surrogates have the right to find intended parents on their own. While you may feel that you’ll have more control over the process if you initiate the search on your own, you must also be prepared to take on the added responsibility this would involve. There are resources you can use to identify intended parents including the internet, print ads posted by intended parents, social media matching groups, and networking with family and friends. Most importantly, without the assistance of a surrogacy professional to verify the identity and intentions of the prospective intended parent, you confront the risk of scams, fraud and misrepresentation. Therefore, even if you successfully find intended parents on your own, you should contact a surrogacy professional for their guidance and recommendations before moving forward with any potential match.
Once you’ve identified intended parents, we can guide you through the legal process and draft the gestational carrier agreement between you and the intended parents. These agreements lay out each party’s expectations and their responsibilities moving forward. The agreement serves to ensure that everyone is on the same page with regard to this life-changing journey. If you think we can help, feel free to contact us at 914-779-1050 or complete our online form.
