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A recent blog posted by Attorney Andrew Vorzimer, alleges the Michael Charles Group, a popular escrow company for several surrogate and egg donor agencies, has closed its doors and left town with more than $2 million dollars worth of trust funds belonging to close to 70 couples. Meanwhile, donors and surrogates, some in the middle of their pregnancies, could be left empty‐handed. Vorzimer believes the Michael Charles Group was a fictitious holdings company created Tonya Collins, the CEO of SurroGenesis USA, a egg donation and surrogacy agent which has also left town. Click here to read The AFA press release.

While these are merely allegations at this point, The American Fertility Association would like to remind couples to take the time and “look before they leap.” There are many choices of agencies, some better than others – and a few which are not legitimate. Of the legitimate agencies, each offers different services, which is why it’s so important for couples to thoroughly research an agency that best suits their needs.

When searching for and selecting a surrogacy agency it’s important to remember that this is one of the most important financial and emotional decisions one will ever make in life. Explore and interview several agencies and ask plenty of questions. This is not a decision that should be rushed.

You can never ask too many questions

1.  How long has the agency been in business?
2.  How many cases has it handled?
3.  What is the screening process for agency surrogates?
4.  Does the screening process include background checks and verification of information on the donor/surrogate?
5.  What part of the screening process is covered by the agency and what part is charged to the recipients?
6.  Has the agency been involved in any lawsuits?
7.  How accurate are its cost estimates?
8.  Does the agency provide a list of all fees upfront?
9.  When are payments required and what part of the payment is refundable?
10. What type of health insurance is used for agency surrogates? Can they provide proof from the insurance company that surrogacy maternity care is included/not excluded?
11. How many staff members does the agency have and what is the staff to client ratio?
12. Does it carry adequate business insurance for protection against lawsuits?
13. How does the agency manage the financial aspects of its cases and are there fees for these services?

Important Tips

•  Get everything in writing.
•  Consider unexpected expenses like donor withdrawal, cancelled donor, and failed donor evaluation by IVF program.
•  Before putting money down, check and re‐check to ensure donor will be available within the requested time frame. Make sure IVF program is available to screen and cycle in timeframe.
•  Hire an attorney, independent from the agency, to review and make changes to the contracts.
•  Ask for and review contracts up front, as opposed to waiting and being rushed through.
•  Know that agency costs can vary greatly.  Be realistic about how much you can afford, as feeling desperate often results in poor choices.

The AFA Resources
The AFA invites you to watch our free online educational modules entitled “Selecting a Third Party Reproductive Facilitator/Agency” by Theresa Erickson, Esq. and “The Search for a Surrogate” by Sharon LaMothe, Founder of Infertility Answers. Both OEM’s are valuable tools, which will help you on your quest for an agency.