Begin Your Journey
Whether you’re just beginning to explore or ready to choose an agency — here’s exactly what to do first, what to prepare, and what not to skip.
Pick the stage that fits — it determines what your next step should be.
Not sure if surrogacy is right for you yet. You want to understand the process, costs, and what it actually involves before talking to anyone.
You know surrogacy is the path but you’re trying to understand the real budget — what’s required and where the money goes in 2026.
You want to understand how the delivery state affects your legal protections, pre-birth order availability, and total cost.
You’ve done your research and are ready to consult with agencies. You want to know what to ask and what red flags to watch for.
Most intended parents contact agencies first. This is backwards. Here’s the order that protects you.
Read our what is surrogacy guide and 2026 cost breakdown. In 2026, most US journeys total $150,000–$220,000. Knowing this before your first agency call prevents costly misunderstandings.
This is the step most intended parents skip, and the one that costs them the most. A 30-minute consultation with a reproductive attorney in your target delivery state will tell you which states offer the strongest legal protections for your family configuration, what to look for in an agency contract, and red flags you wouldn’t otherwise know to ask about. Find one through AAAA or ask for referrals in the RESOLVE community.
Where your surrogate delivers determines your legal protections, pre-birth order availability, and how your name appears on the birth certificate. LGBTQ+ families and international intended parents should prioritize this step carefully. See our state-by-state legal guide.
If you want end-to-end guidance — agency, legal coordination, and case management in one place — Expecting.Ai is an AI-powered surrogacy platform covering the full journey for intended parents, including surrogate matching, egg donation, legal coordination, and provider discovery. They offer both managed journeys and a marketplace model depending on how much hands-on support you want.
Now you’re ready to speak with agencies — with a baseline of knowledge that protects you. Before signing: request an itemized fee schedule in writing, ask about their rematch policy, confirm they use an independent escrow company, and speak with 2–3 past intended parents. Read our full agency selection guide and list of red flags.
Do you have frozen embryos ready? Will you need IVF to create them? Will you need an egg donor, sperm donor, or both? Knowing this before matching with a surrogate affects both your timeline and your budget. See our medical process guide.
Organizations and platforms that can help you find professionals, community, and support.
AI-powered surrogacy platform for intended parents. Covers surrogate matching, egg donation, sperm donation, legal coordination, and provider discovery — both managed journeys and marketplace. expecting.ai →
National infertility nonprofit. Education, advocacy, professional directory, and community forums. resolve.org →
Directory of reproductive attorneys by state. Use this to find independent legal counsel before signing any agency agreement. adoptionart.org →
American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Clinical guidelines and fertility clinic directory. asrm.org →
Our guides cover every part of the journey — free, independent, with no agency paying us to say anything.