How Do You Choose a New York Surrogacy Agency?
Choosing a New York surrogacy agency starts with understanding licensing, legal eligibility, costs, and the support you will receive throughout your journey. Whether you are exploring surrogacy for the first time or already have embryos ready, a clear plan can help you move forward with confidence.
ACRC Surrogacy, part of ACRC Global, is a New York State-licensed gestational surrogacy organization under license GSP220901. Its New York office is located at 5 Penn Plaza, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10001.
Looking for guidance tailored to your family? Book a free consultation with ACRC Surrogacy to discuss your goals, matching preferences, and next steps.
Is Surrogacy Legal in New York?
Yes. Compensated gestational surrogacy is legal in New York under the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA), which took effect on February 15, 2021. The law established agency licensing requirements, protections for surrogates, and a pathway to legal parentage. healthweb-back.health.ny.gov
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate does not provide the egg used to create the embryo. The embryo is created through IVF using eggs and sperm from intended parents, donors, or a combination of both.
Your legal plan should address eligibility, the surrogacy agreement, and how parental rights will be established. Learn more through the New York State Department of Health’s surrogacy resources.
Why Does New York Surrogacy Agency Licensing Matter?
An organization operating a gestational surrogacy matching program in New York must hold a Department of Health license. When comparing agencies, ask for the license number and check the official directory yourself. healthweb-back.health.ny.gov
ACRC’s listing appears under Angels Creation Reproductive Center d/b/a Gestational Surrogacy and Egg Donation Service, license GSP220901.
Licensing is one part of your evaluation. Also ask:
Who will coordinate your case?
How does surrogate screening work?
What services and costs are included?
How will you receive updates?
What support is available when plans change?
These questions help you understand what working with the agency will look like throughout your journey.
Who Can Pursue a New York Surrogacy Agreement?
Under New York Family Court Act Section 581-402:
At least one intended parent must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
The surrogate must also be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
The six-month New York residency requirement must be met by the surrogate or at least one intended parent, as specified in the statute. www.nysenate.gov
For international intended parents, this distinction matters: matching with a New York resident does not, by itself, satisfy the intended-parent citizenship or immigration requirement.
Have a New York surrogacy attorney review your eligibility before committing to a match. Families living overseas should also obtain advice about recognition of parentage and requirements for returning home with their child.
Read the current New York surrogacy eligibility statute, or schedule a free ACRC consultation to discuss which U.S. options to explore with legal counsel.
What Rights Does a New York Surrogate Have?
New York’s Gestational Surrogates’ Bill of Rights protects the surrogate’s autonomy and access to independent support. Key protections include:
Medical autonomy: Control over decisions about their health and pregnancy, including whether to continue or end a pregnancy.
Independent legal representation: Legal counsel of their choosing, paid for by intended parents in compensated arrangements.
Health insurance: Comprehensive coverage and payment of related expenses throughout the required period, including 12 months after childbirth or the end of pregnancy.
Life insurance: A policy meeting the required benefit and duration.
Contract termination rights: The right to end the agreement before becoming pregnant through assisted reproduction. healthweb-back.health.ny.gov
Discuss these protections early, particularly when reviewing insurance, budgeting, and expectations about pregnancy decisions.
How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in New York?
There is no single price that applies to every New York surrogacy journey. Your budget should reflect your medical needs, the surrogate’s compensation and benefits, insurance, legal services, and the services included in your selected program.
Ask for a written breakdown covering:
Agency services and matching fees.
Surrogate compensation, allowances, and reimbursable expenses.
IVF, embryo creation, medications, and embryo transfer.
Egg or sperm donation, if needed.
Medical and psychological screening.
Independent attorneys and parentage proceedings.
Insurance premiums, deductibles, and uncovered expenses.
Escrow administration, travel, and a contingency reserve.
Also ask what happens financially if a match ends, a transfer is unsuccessful, or additional treatment is needed. A useful comparison shows both what is included and what you may pay separately.
ACRC advertises a No Match, No Fee policy, with agency fees payable after a confirmed surrogate or donor match. Request the current written terms, including payment milestones and any separate expenses. www.acrcglobal.com
Explore ACRC’s surrogacy cost information, then book a free consultation to discuss your expected budget.
How Does Surrogate Matching Work?
Matching should consider more than availability. Your consultation is an opportunity to discuss communication preferences, location, relationship expectations, and your approach to important pregnancy decisions.
1. Clarify Your Starting Point
Discuss whether you already have embryos and whether egg or sperm donor services are needed. This helps establish which steps should come first.
2. Understand the Screening Process
Ask what screening has been completed and what remains subject to fertility-clinic review. Understand who gives final medical approval.
3. Review Compatibility
Discuss your preferences and expectations before agreeing to proceed. Consider the relationship you hope to have with your surrogate during pregnancy and after birth.
4. Meet Your Potential Surrogate
Prepare questions about communication, support, and involvement during pregnancy. A match meeting gives both sides an opportunity to get to know one another.
5. Confirm Medical and Legal Clearance
Ask which approvals must be completed before treatment begins and how your agency will coordinate those milestones.
Request a matching estimate specific to your preferences. Matching is only one stage; the full journey also includes screening, contracts, treatment, pregnancy, and birth planning.
Visit ACRC’s surrogacy process guide for more information.
What Should You Ask Before Choosing an Agency?
Bring these questions to your consultation:
Are you licensed to operate a gestational surrogacy program in New York?
How do you screen surrogates, and who gives final medical approval?
What is a realistic matching timeline for my circumstances?
Which services are included, and which costs are separate?
How are escrow funds managed and payments authorized?
What support is available if a match or embryo transfer does not proceed?
Who will be my main contact throughout the journey?
How will independent legal counsel, insurance review, and birth planning be coordinated?
Ask for written answers to financial and contractual questions so you can compare options clearly.
How Can ACRC Surrogacy Support Your Journey?
ACRC provides surrogate matching, egg and sperm donor services, fertility coordination, legal coordination, and international case management. Its team supports LGBTQIA+ intended parents, single parents, and families living internationally. www.acrcglobal.com
If you need an egg or sperm donor, explore ACRC’s donor database. Donor selection and surrogate matching involve different criteria, so discuss how both processes fit into your plan.
Your first consultation is an opportunity to explain your circumstances and ask about eligibility, available programs, costs, and timing.
Book a free consultation with ACRC Surrogacy to explore your next step toward parenthood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ACRC a New York State-Licensed Surrogacy Agency?
Yes. ACRC appears in the New York State Department of Health’s directory under license GSP220901. Check the official directory when evaluating an agency. healthweb-back.health.ny.gov
Do Intended Parents Have to Live in New York?
Not necessarily. The six-month residency requirement may be satisfied by the surrogate, but the agreement must also meet citizenship or lawful permanent residency and other eligibility requirements. Have an attorney review your situation.
Can International Intended Parents Work With a New York Surrogate?
Eligibility depends on more than where the surrogate lives. At least one intended parent must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident under Section 581-402. Families who do not meet this requirement should discuss other U.S. pathways with qualified counsel. www.nysenate.gov
Can ACRC Help if I Need Both an Egg Donor and a Surrogate?
Yes. ACRC offers donor services and surrogate matching. Ask how donor selection, embryo creation, and surrogate matching will be coordinated for your journey.
How Do I Start Planning Surrogacy in New York?
Begin by discussing your goals, embryo status, budget, and legal eligibility. Schedule a free consultation with ACRC Surrogacy to explore your next steps.
This article provides general educational information. Eligibility, contracts, and parentage requirements should be reviewed with a qualified surrogacy attorney. Medical and insurance questions should be reviewed with the relevant licensed professionals.
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