Independent Surrogacy vs. an Agency – Who Is It Really Right For?

In my post about "a second journey without an agency" I wrote about couples returning for a second journey with the same surrogate and skipping the agency. But lately I meet more and more couples considering skipping the agency in their first journey – what English-speaking communities call an Indy Journey. The savings are tempting: agency fees run tens of thousands of dollars. So let's talk about what you actually give up when you give up an agency.

What does an agency actually do? Four big things: it finds and screens surrogates (that rigorous funnel we've discussed), it coordinates between all parties – clinic, attorneys, insurance, escrow – for two years, it manages crises when something goes wrong, and it provides the surrogate with her own support system. In an independent journey – all of that is on you.

The hardest part of an indy journey is the first one: finding a surrogate. Without an agency, the search happens in Facebook groups and dedicated platforms, and it demands time, patience and a sharp critical eye – because the medical, psychological and legal screening? You have to initiate and fund it yourselves. This is also where scammers strike: fake "surrogates" fishing for advance payments. Double vigilance is mandatory.

Who can it work for? Those who already have a known surrogate – a friend, a family member, or a surrogate from a previous journey. Those comfortable with legal English, spreadsheets, and phone calls with American insurance companies at 2 a.m. Europe time. And those with a strong professional network: an experienced reproductive law attorney (non-negotiable!), a clinic willing to work with independent couples, and a properly run escrow company.

Who is it less suited for? First-time parents with no familiarity with the American system; people who know they get overwhelmed by bureaucracy; and anyone short on time – because an indy journey is a part-time job that lasts two years.

My tip: if savings are the main driver, first check the middle path – some agencies offer reduced "matching only" packages, where they locate and screen a surrogate and you manage the rest. You get the part that's hardest to do alone, at a fraction of the price.

Good luck and good health!