Intended Parents

Can You Do Surrogacy Without an Agency? The Reality of DIY Surrogacy

You can pursue surrogacy without an agency through independent or private surrogacy arrangements. While this path offers more autonomy and potentially lower upfront costs, you’ll take on significant responsibilities including surrogate screening, legal coordination, and medical management that agencies typically handle.

With proper preparation and professional guidance, many intended parents successfully navigate independent surrogacy to welcome their children.

Ready to explore your surrogacy options with expert guidance? Schedule a consultation today to discover which path is right for your family.

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This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about doing surrogacy without an agency, including the realities of DIY surrogacy, safety considerations, pros and cons, and why many parents ultimately choose professional support for their journey.

Can You Do Surrogacy Without an Agency?

Yes, you can absolutely do surrogacy without an agency through what’s called private surrogacy or independent surrogacy. In this arrangement, intended parents work directly with a surrogate rather than through a surrogacy agency’s matching and support services.

Private surrogacy gives you complete control over every aspect of your surrogacy journey. You’ll be responsible for finding and vetting potential surrogates, negotiating compensation and contract terms, coordinating medical care, and managing all legal requirements.

Taking on these responsibilities means you’ll need to develop expertise in areas where agencies typically provide professional guidance. You’ll essentially become your own case manager, legal coordinator, and surrogate screening specialist throughout the process.

How Does Surrogacy Work Without an Agency? Understanding Independent Surrogacy

Independent surrogacy requires you to manage multiple complex processes that agencies typically coordinate. Here’s how doing surrogacy without an agency typically works:

You\'ll need to identify potential surrogates through online platforms, fertility clinics, or personal networks. This involves creating profiles, screening candidates, and conducting initial interviews to find someone who aligns with your values and expectations.

Once you identify a potential surrogate, you\'ll need to coordinate comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations. This includes reviewing her medical history, arranging fertility testing, and ensuring she meets your clinic\'s requirements for surrogate candidates.

You\'ll work directly with attorneys to draft surrogacy agreements covering compensation, medical decisions, lifestyle expectations, and countless other details. Without agency guidance, you\'ll need to research fair compensation rates and standard contract terms in your state.

Throughout the pregnancy, you\'ll coordinate directly with your fertility clinic and the surrogate\'s healthcare providers. This includes scheduling appointments, managing insurance considerations, and ensuring proper medical care.

You\'ll handle all payments directly, including surrogate compensation, medical expenses, and legal fees. This requires careful budgeting and often setting up escrow accounts to manage funds appropriately.

Some intended parents find success with independent programs that provide agency support for surrogates they’ve already identified, combining the autonomy of independent surrogacy with professional guidance.

Is It Safe to Do Surrogacy Without an Agency?

Surrogacy without an agency can be safe when properly managed, but it does carry additional risks that professional agencies help mitigate.

The safety of independent surrogacy largely depends on your ability to thoroughly vet surrogates and navigate complex legal and medical requirements.

1
Risk of Fraud
Without agency screening processes, you\'re more vulnerable to surrogacy scams. Some individuals may misrepresent their pregnancy status, medical history, or intentions. Agencies typically have established verification processes that protect intended parents from these risks.
2
Medical Complications
If you miss important details while reviewing a surrogate\'s medical history, you could face unexpected complications or delays. Agencies work with medical professionals who specialize in surrogate screening and know exactly what to look for in candidate evaluations.
3
Legal Vulnerabilities
Navigating surrogacy laws varies significantly by state, and missing crucial legal requirements can jeopardize your parental rights. Without agency expertise, you may unknowingly create legal vulnerabilities that could complicate your journey.
4
Financial Exposure
If a surrogate becomes disqualified partway through the process, you may lose money invested in medical evaluations, legal fees, and compensation. This financial risk increases when you don\'t have agency safety nets and backup support systems.

While these risks don’t make independent surrogacy impossible, they require careful attention and often professional consultation to manage effectively.

What are the Pros and Cons of Surrogacy Without an Agency?

Understanding both advantages and challenges of DIY surrogacy helps you make an informed decision about your path forward.

Pros of Surrogacy Without an Agency:

Complete Autonomy: You maintain full control over every decision, from surrogate selection to contract terms
Potentially Lower Costs: Without agency fees, your upfront costs may be lower
Direct Relationship: You build a personal connection with your surrogate without intermediaries
Flexible Timeline: You set your own pace for finding and working with a surrogate

Cons of Surrogacy Without an Agency:

Higher Risk Exposure: Greater vulnerability to scams, medical complications, and legal issues
Significant Time Investment: Managing all aspects of surrogacy requires substantial time and energy
Steep Learning Curve: You must develop expertise in areas outside your background
Potential for Higher Costs: If complications arise, resolving issues without agency support can become expensive
Limited Support Network: You lack the emotional support and guidance that agencies provide during challenging moments

Many intended parents find that while independent surrogacy offers more control, the complexity and risks involved make professional support valuable for achieving their family-building goals safely and efficiently.

Surrogate Screening Without an Agency

When pursuing surrogacy without an agency, surrogate screening becomes your responsibility—and it’s one of the most critical aspects of your journey.

Proper screening protects both you and your potential surrogate while establishing the foundation for a successful partnership.

You\'ll need to thoroughly examine your surrogate\'s complete medical records, including previous pregnancies, delivery complications, and overall health status. Without medical expertise, you may miss important warning signs that could indicate higher risks for pregnancy complications.

Coordinating mental health assessments requires finding qualified professionals who understand surrogacy-specific psychological considerations. These evaluations assess emotional readiness, support systems, and motivations for becoming a surrogate.

You\'ll need to verify identity, criminal background, and financial stability independently. This process requires knowing what to look for and how to properly verify information without privacy violations.

Working directly with your fertility clinic, you\'ll coordinate all medical testing and clearance procedures. This includes fertility assessments, infectious disease screening, and ensuring your surrogate meets all clinic requirements.

Throughout screening, you\'ll manage all communication, schedule coordination, and follow-up without professional case management support.

The screening process typically takes several weeks to complete, and if your surrogate doesn’t qualify after this investment of time and money, you’ll need to start over with a new candidate.

This potential for delays and repeated costs is one reason many intended parents value agency screening processes.

Why Some Parents Still Choose Agencies After Exploring DIY Surrogacy

Many intended parents initially consider independent surrogacy but ultimately choose agency support after learning about the complexities involved. Here’s why professional guidance often becomes appealing:

Comprehensive Support System
Agencies provide case managers who coordinate every aspect of your journey, from initial matching through delivery and beyond.
Established Safety Protocols
Professional agencies have refined screening processes, legal procedures, and risk management strategies developed through years of experience.
Expert Network Access
Agencies maintain relationships with reproductive attorneys, mental health professionals, insurance specialists, and medical providers who specialize in surrogacy.
Emotional Support
The surrogacy journey includes emotional challenges that agencies help navigate through counseling resources, support groups, and experienced staff who understand the unique aspects of third-party reproduction.
Crisis Management
When unexpected situations arise—medical complications, legal issues, or relationship challenges—agencies provide professional crisis management and resolution support that protects your interests and keeps your journey moving forward.

The peace of mind that comes with professional support often outweighs the additional costs, especially when considering the potential financial and emotional costs of managing complications independently.

Explore Independent Surrogacy Programs

If you want to find your own surrogate but still benefit from professional guidance and services, several agencies offer independent surrogacy programs that bridge the gap between DIY and full-service surrogacy:

American Surrogacy Independent Program: Work with a surrogate you’ve already identified while receiving comprehensive case management, legal support, and medical coordination. This program provides agency expertise for surrogates you find through personal networks or online platforms, combining autonomy with professional guidance.
Circle Surrogacy “Bring Your Own Surrogate” Program: Circle Surrogacy offers reduced-cost agency services for intended parents who have already identified their gestational carrier, providing legal representation, screening, and support while ensuring proper contracts and professional guidance.
Creative Family Connections Independent Support: Creative Family Connections supports “indie journeys” when intended parents and surrogate candidates have already found each other, offering legal compatibility review and process support.
Nodal Platform Options: Nodal allows intended parents to choose between full case management services or independent journeys after matching, with flexible pricing starting at $500 monthly subscriptions.

These programs allow you to maintain control over surrogate selection while benefiting from professional support systems that help ensure safe, successful outcomes.

Still Unsure? We’ll Help You Find the Right Path

Deciding between independent surrogacy and agency support is a personal choice that depends on your comfort level, available time, and risk tolerance. Every family’s situation is unique, and there’s no single right answer for everyone pursuing surrogacy.

What matters most is finding an approach that aligns with your needs, resources, and family-building goals.

What if you could have the autonomy you want with the safety net you need? Speak with a specialist today who can help you design a surrogacy approach that perfectly fits your family’s priorities and comfort level.