SURROCOMPASS GUIDES
Questions to ask a surrogacy agency
Ask each agency the same questions about service coverage, matching, responsibilities, costs, communication, and changes in plans. Record the answers, the evidence offered, and anything still unresolved so you can compare agencies consistently.
Before the conversation
Read the agency profile and open its sources. Note the services you want to discuss and the fields marked Not provided. A focused list of unknowns makes a consultation easier to compare with your other conversations.
Create four columns in your notes: question, agency answer, supporting document, and follow-up needed. Keep promises about availability or timing dated so you can confirm them again when you are ready to act.
Program fit and current availability
Use these questions to clarify what the agency can offer in your circumstances.
- Are you accepting new intended-parent inquiries for the services I need?
- Can you support someone living in my state or country, and what limits apply?
- What eligibility information do you need, and who evaluates it?
- Which parts of your program are handled by your team and which by independent providers?
Matching and support
Ask how the process works and how the experience of every participant is supported.
- How do intended parents and carriers learn about each other and decide whether to proceed?
- How are preferences, boundaries, and communication expectations discussed?
- Who coordinates evaluation and counseling with qualified professionals?
- How do you describe a typical matching timeline, and what is that estimate based on?
- What support is available if a proposed match does not proceed?
Costs and written commitments
Ask for documents you can review after the call, rather than trying to make a decision during the conversation.
- Can you provide an itemized quote showing included and excluded services?
- Which amounts are estimates, and what circumstances could change them?
- What are the payment schedule, refund conditions, and cancellation terms?
- Who manages any held funds, and how is spending documented?
- May I review the agreement with independent legal counsel before deciding?
Communication and next steps
Finish with a clear understanding of what happens after the consultation.
- Who will be my primary contact, and how are urgent concerns handled?
- How often should I expect updates, including when there is no progress?
- What is the process for raising a concern or requesting a different contact?
- Which documents should I review before another conversation?
After each consultation
Add the written answers to your comparison notes and mark unanswered questions explicitly. Return to the agency's sources when something differs from the directory profile; ask the agency which information is current.
Use SurroCompass to keep up to three agency profiles side by side while you compare. A source-reviewed label or sponsored placement should not replace your own conversations, document review, or advice from the professionals involved in your plans.