Surrogenesis, Alternative Family Building and others have been in the news lately for stealing escrow funds from clients and disappearing. These agencies often operate for a few years building up clientele and trust. Then they make their move to clean everyone out, leaving couples and surrogates high and dry.
 

A number of egg donor agencies have hung up shingles for surrogacy services but lack experience matching, paying surrogates and handing the complex issues a surrogacy arrangement involves. Some entrepreneurs have enticing ads on the internet for couples and surrogates but operate from  postal box drops or leased desk space in buildings with impressive addresses.

How do you protect yourself? Ethical agencies, like Parenting Partners, do not steal from clients. Your best bet is to get in writing where the agency is going to bank your funds and double check with the bank that funds are not commingled, but placed in individual accounts with you as the beneficiary.
 

Talk to the bank manager to ask about previous problems, if any, with the agency (escrow manager). Ask how long the agency has had a relationship to the bank. If you can, use a surrogacy service that has been in business more than six or seven years.. While it isn't foolproof, it is a sign that the agency may be more stable. Ask the agency to certify in writing that it is not in bankruptcy, has corporate counsel and that it is not being sued by clients for mismanagement of funds. Get the principals home addresses, phone numbers and ask for references of clients. Your doctor may not always be aware of potential problems with agencies they refer you to. Clients of Surrogenesis, as example, were referred there by doctors.. Some questions to ask:

How are matches made? When choosing an agency, one thing to ask is how it makes it matches. Does it recruit surrogates on its own or rely on other agencies or outside "consultants" to do that job? Does the agency "trade" clients, surrogates and egg donors with other agencies? Do they hire outside recruiters to find egg donors or surrogates for them? If so, you may be paying up to double (the agency fee and the matchmaker fee). Some consultants also offer financial planning for its extra fee. However, many insurance agents can help you obtain financial planning services free or at nominal cost.

What kind of screening is done for clients? Are you going to be psychologically and medically screened with a specific match in mind or just generically by an in-house psychologist? If it's a generic "pre-screen," be aware you and your surrogate may have to be screened again by the clinic you are going to work with, again at extra cost.

Who is the main contact person for you and your surrogate? Are you dealing with multiple employees or one person on a regular basis?

Who will pay the bills? Some agencies offer escrow service as part of the fee. Others do not. If they advertise as "full service," is escrow service built in?

Can the agency provide references of past clients? If the answer is no, the agency may be new and perhaps they don't have a successful track record.

For the latest on the scam by Alternative Family Building, please go to
www.wichitaeagle.com and look for its surrogacy article on June 28, 2009. The link is http://www.kansas.com/news/story/871077.html. This is the only site that has updated information about this scam.
 

Your Doctor:

Chicago has many fine fertility doctors. Sometimes, however, a fertility doctor will recommend only his favorite agency. Take his favorite but still call around. Patients need to be able to choose for themselves which agency can provide the best chance for a good match and a successful outcome. Choose a doctor who is open to working with different agencies. Stay away from coercive situations. If your doctor threatens that he won't be your doctor unless you work with his favorite agency, you will be locked in to a service and/or surrogate that may not be the best fit for you. You're going to spend thousands of dollars and your hopes and dreams are on the line. Do not limit your choices. If your doctor says "my choice or no service," call us at 847 782-0224 for a list of other doctors.

Your Attorney:

Illinois has a number of excellent practitioners with experience handling surrogacy agreements. Some attorneys work mainly with intended parents. Others work more with surrogates. Some are comfortable working with clients from out of state. Others are not. When consulting an attorney, please find out their level of experience with surrogacy and also get cost information. Additionally, ask if they can work with you or your surrogate if one is out of state.

Your Psychologist or Social Worker:

Our state has a number of experienced therapists to help you with psychological aspects. Some are connected to specific fertility clinics. Others screen for different clinics. Some therapists will delve into every aspect of your past and present life with extensive questioning and hours-long interviews and testing. Others take a more focused approach that concentrates on screening for the surrogacy arrangement specifically.

If you are interested in surrogacy and need a referral to an experienced professional, please call Parenting Partners at 847 782-0224.