Independent Matches Need Love, Too!

Even if you have already found your perfect match without the help of an agency, we want to make becoming a parent through surrogacy a seamless process for you and your surrogate.

Congratulations on your good fortune of having someone in your life – be it a friend, family member or someone you met through social media – wanting to take this journey with you! We’ve created a independent match program designed to help you every step of the way, beginning with a no-charge consultation and ending with the birth of your baby (wow, that’s exciting).

The process when you are in our Independent Match Program

  • Your relationship with Bright Futures Families begins with a no-charge consultation. You meet with one of our staff members via telephone or video conference. We tell you about our program, explore where you are in the process and examine how we can help make the entire journey smoother for you. You learn about the judicial system in the state your gestational carrier is due to give birth. We discuss insurance issues, financial matters and what is included in our fee. We allow as much time as you need to share your story and to make sure we understand your history, desires and needs around this very important decision.

  • Once you decide to partner with us, you sign an agreement with Bright Futures Families called the Independent Match Agency Agreement. You will fill out a small amount of paperwork. Lastly, you meet your personable, professional and altogether likable (if we do say so ourselves!) case management team from Bright Futures Families.  

  • Just like the Gestational Carriers in our full service matching program, we will conduct a full background check on your Gestational Carrier and her spouse, partner, or any adults living in her home. You get to join the fun, too! In addition to the background checks, we will send your Gestational Carrier to a psychological assessment and you will be provided a psychological counselling session to help you more fully understand the process you are all undertaking.

  • If you don’t already have your gestational carrier’s medical records, we will assist with gathering her records and submitting them to your chosen fertility doctor. If you’ve been working with a fertility doctor, you likely know that reproductive endocrinologists require that all parties undergo a complete medical screening before beginning in vitro fertilization (IVF). Medical screenings also precede the legal agreement with your surrogate. We’ll assist with arranging those appointments, too!

  • Insurance is a complicated issue when it comes to surrogacy journeys. Most insurance providers do not cover IVF (unless you are fortunate enough to work for the small number that do!). Those costs tend to be out of pocket. The maternity and delivery costs of your Surrogate, however, are important to have covered by insurance. It’s possible your Surrogate has insurance already that does not include a surrogacy exclusion, lien, or other surrogacy-unfriendly language. We help figure that out with you. And if her insurance is unfriendly, we help you with exploring other insurance options.

  • The legal agreement with your surrogate (and her spouse, if applicable) ensures that the best interests of all parties are represented. An attorney licensed in the state your gestational carrier lives and will give birth, specializing in assisted reproductive technology law represents you, as intended parents, and drafts the agreement. Your surrogate also has legal representation.

  • Most Intended Parents and Surrogates on this journey together like to take money conversations out of the equation. The involvement of an escrow manager allows all costs and expenses agreed to in the legal agreement to be paid automatically by a third-party.  That way you can forget about money and finances and just focus on the baby!

  • A licensed reproductive endocrinologist oversees and manages the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in their IVF clinic. If you have a fertility specialist, we coordinate the IVF process with your clinic. Your surrogate’s travel expenses over 50 miles are your responsibility.

  • Yay, the news you’ve been waiting for! We offer support throughout the pregnancy as you and your surrogate prepare for the baby’s arrival. Schedules, medical appointments, insurance guidance—we’re available to help when and how we can, just say the word. We also communicate with the hospital to be sure everyone is on the same page and supported. 

  • Your legal team files the documents with the court that establish your parental rights and stipulate that your name(s) appear on the birth certificate from the start.

  • Every parent remembers the moment they held their baby for the first time. The experience is unforgettable. We’re here to help in whatever ways we’re needed in the days leading up to and after your child’s birth. This includes making sure the birth certificate and all legal documents are in order.  Also, heads up: we love pictures and holding babies. 

Surrogacy is expensive and can be full of unexpected costs.

We want to help take as much surprise as possible out of planning financially for a surrogacy journey, please click on the button below to see the expected costs for a surrogacy journey when working with someone you brought to us to work with.

We would be honored to use our knowledge to make your journey just a little bit smoother and allow you to concentrate on the part you really want to experience: the pregnancy and birth!

FAQ for the Independent match program

  • There is no cut and dried answer to this question! Is there a chance it could save you time, of course! If you self-match or independently match quickly and your chosen potential gestational carrier is motivated and qualified, there is a chance things could move more quickly than waiting for a match traditionally. Unfortunately, unresponsive gestational carriers, difficult to locate medical records or other roadblocks could make the process stretch on longer than anyone hopes!

  • There is absolutely a reduction in our Match Fee if you locate your own gestational carrier.  Assuming the first match you bring to us is qualified that’s already a great savings!  Beyond that, if your independent match is willing to take a lower base compensation (sometimes they are, especially if it’s a friend or family member) that can help reduce the overall cost.  But outside of those items, there are no corners to cut.  You’ll still have medical and clinic costs as well as need to pay attorneys for both sides.

  • We perform the exact same level of screening!  We gather all medical records for the gestational carrier, send her to a MFM for full clearance, interview the potential gestational carrier, perform background checks, obtain a professional insurance review, send her (and her partner!) for a full psychological evaluation and so much more!

     

  • We, of course, hope your entire journey goes smoothly and no issues develop, but we know that misunderstandings happen.  We’re here to help!  We are happy to be a neutral third party helping to guide everyone back to a great place, or, if you just can’t get there, we’ll happily be in the center of things.

  • Absolutely not!  Money is one of the most stressful issues out there and one )of many) purposes of escrow is to take that stress out of the equation.  Even if you and your surrogate are best friends you would still need escrow for the protection of all parties!

  • It is best practice (and law in many states!) that the Intended Parents and Gestational Carrier be represented by separate independent counsel.  In practical terms, we want your attorney to advocate for YOU and your best interests – on both sides.  That means having your own attorney who isn’t balancing any conflicts.

  • If your self-matched Gestational Carrier is not qualified to move forward or for some reason breaks the match you may absolutely move over to a full service agency agreement.  You will need to sign a new agreement governing that match, but please note that any monthly agency fees that you have paid to date at that time will count towards the number of months of agency fee paid.

  • That’s up to you and your self-matched gestational carrier.  We are happy to present our typical benefit package if you haven’t already spoken about compensation or we are also willing to honor any financial agreements you made previously.