Questions to Ask Your Surrogacy Agency, and How Elevate Baby Answers Them

Last Updated: June 12, 2026

QUICK ANSWER: The most important questions to ask a surrogacy agency include their experience and track record, how surrogates are screened and matched, the typical timeline and cost structure, what legal support they provide, and what happens if something goes wrong. A reputable agency will answer every one of these questions directly and without hesitation, and their answers will reflect genuine experience, not just process.

Choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the most consequential decisions in your family-building journey. The agency you work with will shape your experience at every stage, from the first consultation to the moment you hold your child.

The right questions to ask are not just about logistics. We recommend focusing on logistics, of course, and also whether an agency has the depth of experience, the relational values, and the structural support to carry you through one of the most complex and meaningful processes of your life.

Below are the questions we think matter most, along with Elevate’s answers.

1. What Is Your Experience, and Who Founded the Agency?

Experience in surrogacy isn’t just measured in years. It’s measured in the quality of the journeys an agency has facilitated, the depth of their clinical and legal partnerships, and whether the people running the agency have genuine personal experience with what you’re going through.

Ask:

• How long have you been operating?
• How many successful journeys have you facilitated?
• Do you work with both domestic and international clients?
• Do you specialize in gestational surrogacy?

At Elevate Baby: Elevate was founded by Kyle Dean Massey and Taylor Frey, who themselves built their family through egg donation and surrogacy. The agency was created because they wanted intended parents to have the experience they had to work hard to find: one built on real understanding, not just process. Our team includes people who have personally navigated surrogacy, egg donation, and IVF. We work with both domestic and international intended parents, and we specialize exclusively in gestational surrogacy.

2. How Are Surrogates Screened?

Surrogate screening is the foundation of a safe, successful surrogacy. The right agency has rigorous, multi-layered standards, not just a checklist.

Ask:

• Medical evaluations: Are physical and reproductive health fully assessed?
• Psychological assessments: How does the agency ensure surrogates are emotionally prepared?
• Lifestyle standards: Are there requirements around substance use or overall health?
• Pregnancy history: Does the surrogate have a proven history of safe, full-term deliveries?

At Elevate Baby: All Elevate surrogates complete a comprehensive screening process that includes a full medical evaluation by a reproductive endocrinologist, a psychological assessment by a licensed mental health professional specializing in third-party reproduction, a criminal and background check on all household members, a review of obstetric history (surrogates must have had at least one prior full-term pregnancy with no significant complications), and lifestyle screening including substance use, home environment, and overall health. Surrogates who do not meet these standards are not matched, regardless of their availability.

3. How Are Surrogates Matched With Intended Parents?

A surrogate match is not just an administrative step! It is one of the most personal moments in the entire process. The right match goes beyond medical compatibility.

Ask:

• How are matches determined?
• Will we be able to review surrogate profiles?
• Can we share preferences about characteristics or lifestyle?
• Will we meet the surrogate before proceeding?

At Elevate Baby: Intended parents are involved in the matching process. You will review surrogate profiles that include medical history, background, personality, and values. You will have the opportunity to share your preferences, including the level of contact you want during the pregnancy, the type of relationship you hope to build with your surrogate, and any specific values or lifestyle considerations that matter to your family. Matches are not made unilaterally by the agency. Your comfort and alignment with your surrogate matter.

4. What is the Full Cost Structure?

Surrogacy is a significant financial commitment, and a transparent agency will provide you with a clear, itemized breakdown of costs before you sign anything.

Ask:

• How much will surrogacy cost, typically?
• What’s included in the cost?
• Do you recommend any fertility financing resources?

At Elevate Baby: We provide a full cost breakdown during the initial consultation. Total costs for a gestational surrogacy journey typically range from $100,000 to $180,000 or more, depending on the specifics of the arrangement. This includes agency fees, surrogate base compensation, medical expenses (IVF clinic, monitoring, medications), legal fees, and related costs. We also connect intended parents with fertility financing resources for families exploring funding options. We don’t present a summary number without explaining what it includes.

5. What Is the Typical Timeline for a Surrogacy Journey?

Surrogacy involves multiple phases, each with its own timeline. Understanding the full arc helps you plan and manage the waiting periods that are part of every journey.

Ask for a detailed timeline including:

• Initial consultation and screening
• Matching and legal contracts
• Embryo transfer and medical prep
• Pregnancy and delivery

At Elevate Baby: A typical surrogacy journey from initial consultation to delivery ranges from 18 to 24 months, though this varies based on matching time, the number of embryo transfer cycles needed, and any unforeseen delays. The general phases are: application and screening (4–8 weeks), matching (variable, typically 2–4 months), legal contracts (4–6 weeks once matched), medical preparation and embryo transfer (1–3 months), and pregnancy and delivery (approximately 9 months from confirmed pregnancy). We walk intended parents through this timeline during the consultation, so there are no surprises.

6. What Happens If Something Goes Wrong?

One of the most important questions prospective intended parents don’t always think to ask: What does the agency do when things don’t go as planned? A failed transfer, a miscarriage, a complication during pregnancy, or a relationship issue with the surrogate are real possibilities that a serious agency has a clear process for.

Ask:

• What protocols are in place for complications?
• Can we select a new surrogate if ours cannot continue her journey?
• What’s your provision for common and uncommon contingencies?

At Elevate Baby: Our gestational surrogacy agreements include provisions for common contingencies, including failed transfers, miscarriage, medical complications, and rematching. If a surrogate is unable to continue for medical or personal reasons, we facilitate a rematch. If a transfer fails, we support the intended parents and surrogate through the process of trying again, in line with what is medically appropriate and emotionally ready for everyone involved. We do not disappear when journeys get difficult. This is when an agency’s quality is most visible.

7. Do You Support LGBTQ+ Intended Parents?

Same-sex couples and single intended parents make up a significant portion of the surrogacy community. The right agency should have genuine, specific experience with LGBTQ+ family building.

Ask:

• How common are same-sex and single intended parents in your practice?
• In what ways do you support same-sex and single intended parents?
• What legal and personal challenges do same-sex and single intended parents encounter?

At Elevate Baby: Elevate was co-founded by a same-sex couple. We have worked with LGBTQ+ intended parents from the beginning and understand the specific legal, medical, and personal dimensions of this path, including which states offer the strongest legal protections, how egg donation and surrogacy work together for same-sex male couples, and how to navigate the process in jurisdictions with less established law. We are not learning as we go.

8. Can We Speak With Past Clients?

Testimonials on an agency’s website are one data point. A direct conversation with a past intended parent is another. A good agency will facilitate this without hesitation.

Ask:

• Can we read or view testimonials?
• Are you able to connect us with past intended parents or surrogates?
• How do your clients describe their relationship with your team?

At Elevate Baby: We are happy to connect prospective intended parents with past clients who have agreed to share their experience. We also maintain an active community of families who have worked with Elevate and are willing to speak with families earlier in the process. Ask us directly, and we will make the introduction.

9. How Involved Can We Be During the Pregnancy?

Every family has a different vision for their relationship with their surrogate during the pregnancy, and both extremes are valid. A good agency will support whatever level of involvement feels right, without imposing a template.

Ask:

• Can we attend ultrasounds or medical appointments?
• Will we be present at the birth?
• How often can we speak with the surrogate?

At Elevate Baby, we support intended parents in defining the relationship they want with their surrogate from the matching stage onward. Some families attend every ultrasound and speak with their surrogate weekly. Others prefer regular agency updates with less direct contact. Both are workable. What matters is that the surrogate and intended parents are aligned before the match is finalized, and that any changes in preferences along the way are handled honestly and with care.

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Ready to Begin Your Surrogacy Journey?

If your dreams include becoming a parent, we’re ready to help. Learn more about our straightforward surrogacy options or request a consultation to get started today.

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