| Every surrogate mother and intended parent is faced | | | | a surrogate to receive as compensation set in stone. |
| with the prospect of how they are going to find a | | | | If a surrogate mother wants a higher fee, or a set |
| potential match to work with during a surrogacy. | | | | of intended parents wants a lower fee, they are |
| There are generally two ways to find a match: | | | | unable to negotiate this via some agencies. An |
| through a surrogacy agency or finding a match | | | | independent surrogacy match allows both parties to |
| independently. | | | | negotiate a different amount. |
| There is no rule stating that a surrogate mother or | | | | Con: All appointments and travel will need to be |
| intended parent needs to work with a surrogacy | | | | arranged. |
| agency. They are free to find a match on their own | | | | One of the main benefits to an agency is their |
| through local connections or via an online message | | | | experience. They arrange travel and various |
| board. Here are some of the pros and cons to finding | | | | appointments for their clients, which helps those |
| an independent match. | | | | inexperienced with surrogacy. Those matching |
| Pro: Independent matching is free. | | | | independently will need to figure this all out on their |
| The best part about an independent surrogacy | | | | own. |
| arrangement is that it does not cost anything. | | | | Con: There is no escrow agent. |
| Surrogacy agencies are quite expensive. Many | | | | An escrow agent acts as a third party between the |
| intended parents cannot afford the high fees in | | | | surrogate mother and the intended parents and |
| addition to all the other expenses of surrogacy. | | | | handles all the money in a surrogacy arrangement. |
| Pro: Traditional surrogates can be found via | | | | Most agencies provide this service. Without an |
| independent surrogacy matching. | | | | agency, the surrogate and intended parents will need |
| Many agencies will not work with traditional surrogate | | | | to find a separate escrow agent. |
| mothers. In order to match these traditional | | | | Con: Background checks are not automatically |
| surrogates with intended parents, many find | | | | provided. |
| independent surrogacy matching to be a much better | | | | Most agencies do background checks on either or |
| option. | | | | both the surrogate mother, her partner, and the |
| Pro: There are no strict rules for independent | | | | intended parents. Without this convenience, the |
| matching. | | | | parties will need to do this on their own, or choose |
| Some agencies have strict rules regarding weight and | | | | to go without. |
| other issues. If these issues do not matter to a set | | | | Each surrogacy journey is different and each set of |
| of intended parents and their clinic, they can find a | | | | intended parents and surrogate mothers needs to |
| match on their own. | | | | decide for themselves if it is better in their situation |
| Pro: A surrogate and her intended parents can | | | | to work with an agency or to match independently. |
| negotiate compensation. | | | | There is no right or wrong way to do it. |
| Many times, agencies have the fees that they "allow" | | | | |