Surrogates

The ‘Old School’ surrogacy agency model

With what we call an 'Old School' surrogacy agency model, the Intended Parent signs up to work with a specific surrogacy agency. The agency requires an up-front payment of one-third to one-half of its fee (which can be $30,000 or more) before the agency will show the intended parent any surrogate profiles.

Agencies usually have a long list of intended parents who are waiting to be matched, so matches occur based on who is “next in line” for a potential match. In working with our clients who have tried the Old School model, we found that average wait times for a surrogacy match can be over a year long.

By the time they are presented a surrogate, they can feel the pressure to work with that candidate, whether or not she is up to the standards that the Intended Parent desires. By not choosing the first available surrogate, the Intended Parents may lose their place in line, even though this candidate might not be the best match.

The Parent Choice model

Donor Concierge prefers to focus on the ‘Parent Choice’ model during the surrogate selection process. We believe it’s important to work with the right person to create a mutually beneficial relationship.

At Donor Concierge, we cast our net wide, contacting all the agencies that we have vetted and approved, reviewing the profiles of their available surrogates. We make sure the candidates are likely to be approved by your doctor, meet ASRM Guidelines, are healthy and come as close as possible to your desired criteria. We ONLY work with agencies that will allow us to review surrogate profiles prior to sharing them with our clients.

With this approach, you’ll see a wider array of both candidates and agencies, and have the opportunity to make an informed choice about both.

    Our Surrogate Search Process

    Donor Concierge streamlines the surrogate search process by leveraging our extensive network of surrogacy agencies nationwide, providing intended parents with a comprehensive selection of potential surrogates.

    1. Initial Consultation

    Your surrogacy journey with Donor Concierge begins with an initial consultation, in which a member of our team gets a sense of you, your situation, your family-building desires, and what you’re looking for in a surrogate. This is also your chance to ask us any questions you have about surrogacy, our services, and our approach to surrogate matching.

    2. Confirm Your Surrogate Criteria

    Once we get the ball rolling, we will confirm your surrogate criteria to identify and prioritize the characteristics that are most important to you and your family-building goals. The surrogate criteria act as our guiding compass as we search our extensive network of agencies to find the ideal surrogate match that aligns with your needs.

    3. Active Search and Weekly Updates

    Casting a wide net, Donor Concierge takes an active and comprehensive approach to the surrogate search process that we call the ‘Parent Choice’ model. With your surrogate criteria guiding the search, our team reaches out to the surrogacy agencies in our network to review the profiles of available surrogates. In addition to keeping your surrogate criteria at the forefront, we also make sure that surrogate candidates are likely to meet the approval of your fertility doctor.

    Throughout the surrogate search process, we provide weekly updates to keep you informed and involved at every step of the way. This approach offers our clients access to a broader range of surrogate candidates and agencies so that they can make informed and confident decisions that suit their unique requirements.

    4. Surrogate Matching

    Our surrogate matching process is designed to prioritize quality over quantity. Before presenting any candidates to you, Donor Concierge conducts a comprehensive review of their medical records and obtains pre-approval, ensuring that we are only showing you surrogate candidates who are likely to be approved by your clinic and meet your requirements. We present one surrogate candidate at a time, so that you can focus on each one.

    5. Background Checks

    Background checks play a crucial role in the surrogacy process, as they protect the safety and well-being of all parties involved. These background searches are conducted by the surrogacy agencies and confirmed by Donor Concierge. This includes credit and criminal background checks to ensure that the surrogate and her spouse/partner (if applicable) are sound in every respect. Furthermore, all adults living in the surrogate’s home who are over the age of 18 are subject to background checks as well.

    6. Legal Guidance

    Navigating the legal aspects of surrogacy can be complex depending on various factors, such as your location, the surrogate's residence, and your marital status. The legality of surrogacy and the specific legal nuances vary from state to state, especially when there are factors such as the use of an egg or sperm donor, which can impact your genetic relationship to your baby and the legalities of the surrogacy agreement. Although Donor Concierge is not a law firm and does not directly manage legal matters, we offer invaluable guidance and support throughout the surrogacy search process. We will also connect you with a reputable reproductive attorney in our network.

    7. Additional Services

    As a concierge surrogacy search provider, Donor Concierge goes above and beyond the matching process to support our intended parents. We offer a diverse array of additional add-on services tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. We understand that every family-building journey is different and our dedicated team is ready to cater to your specific needs. To learn more about our additional services, we invite you to reach out to us directly.

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