The dangers of hiring an intermediary agency in surrogacy processes

In recent years, surrogacy—also known as surrogate motherhood—has gained visibility as an alternative for individuals or couples who, for various reasons, cannot have children naturally. This method, which is legal in some countries under certain conditions, involves the participation of a pregnant woman who carries the baby of future parents in her womb, whether for medical, biological, or social reasons.

In this context, multiple agencies have emerged that offer support, advice, and management services for those who wish to embark on this journey. However, not all of these agencies are what they appear to be. Many of them act as mere intermediaries, meaning that they do not carry out the process directly, but simply connect the prospective parents with clinics or agencies in the country where the program will take place. This creates a number of risks and drawbacks that should be understood before making such a sensitive and momentous decision.

Below, we will detail the main problems associated with intermediary agencies in surrogacy processes and why it is crucial to choose organizations with structure, their own staff, and programs designed and executed directly.

Lack of real structure

One of the main characteristics of an intermediary agency is that it lacks physical and operational structure in the country where the surrogacy will take place. Many of these “agencies” do not have offices or employees abroad. They are run by people who have gone through the surrogacy process themselves—parents who, after their experience, feel qualified to advise others—or even by lawyers who have spotted a business opportunity.

The problem is obvious: there is no real infrastructure behind them. Without offices or staff on the ground, they cannot provide effective, close, and personalized follow-up to the process. They cannot respond immediately to contingencies, nor do they have direct control over the clinics, contracts, or selection of the surrogate. Their role is reduced to that of commission agents, charging for mediating between the prospective parents and the local clinic, which is ultimately responsible for the process.

Hidden fees and increased costs

As intermediaries, these agents charge a commission for each family they place in a program. In many cases, this commission is hidden within the final price presented to the parents. The result is an artificial increase in the cost of the surrogacy process.

Prospective parents believe they are hiring a comprehensive service, with legal, medical, and logistical support, when in reality they are paying someone to simply put them in contact with another agency, clinic, or law firm in the destination country. That extra money does not translate into better care or greater security, but simply into another intermediary in the chain.

Lack of real specialization

Many of the intermediaries who present themselves as “surrogacy experts” have no legal or medical training or professional experience in this field. Some are former clients who, after completing a process, have set up their own “agency” using their personal story as a selling point. Others are lawyers who have discovered a profitable niche market but do not have specialized training in international family law, bioethics, or comparative law.

It should be noted that most lawyers who advertise themselves as specialists in surrogacy have been trained by agencies such as Gestlife, and in reality also act as intermediaries: they do not handle the legal processes themselves, but refer their clients to local lawyers in the country where the surrogacy takes place, charging a commission for each family.

Lack of transparency and control

When an intermediary agency is hired, control of the process is left in the hands of third parties. The prospective parents have no direct contact with the clinic, the medical team, or the surrogate mother. All information passes through the intermediary, which can lead to delays, misunderstandings, and even manipulation.

Furthermore, as these intermediaries have no direct contractual relationship with the key players in the process (clinics, local lawyers, surrogate mothers, etc.), they cannot guarantee the quality of services or intervene effectively if problems arise. This leaves prospective parents in a vulnerable position, especially in countries where the language, legislation, or customs are very different.

Lack of personalized follow-up

Surrogacy is a long and emotionally intense process. It involves medical, legal, ethical, and personal decisions. It requires constant support, both before, during, and after the pregnancy. Intermediary agencies, as they do not have their own staff or presence in the country where the process takes place, cannot provide this comprehensive support.

Many families report feeling alone, uninformed, or confused at critical moments in the process, precisely because their “agency” is not really present. In contrast, agencies with their own structure—such as Gestlife, which has 196 employees and 18 offices in 11 countries—can offer real support, with staff on the ground, translators, doctors, lawyers, and psychologists who work together to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.

Misinformation and unrealistic expectations

Acting as sellers of third-party services, intermediaries often promise more than they can deliver. To close a sale, they exaggerate success rates, hide legal risks, or downplay logistical difficulties. This creates unrealistic expectations that later lead to frustration, conflict, and financial or emotional losses.

The fact that many of these agencies operate from a country other than the one where the surrogacy program is taking place further complicates the situation: they are not familiar with local legislation, are not up to date with regulatory changes, and cannot adapt quickly to new circumstances. The lack of accurate information is one of the main sources of problems in surrogacy processes, and intermediaries are often responsible for this lack of transparency.

Legal and ethical risks

Hiring an agency with no legal or operational presence in the country where the surrogacy will take place can have serious legal consequences. In some countries, surrogacy is regulated by strict rules; in others, it is outright prohibited. Lack of knowledge or poor advice can lead to serious situations such as:

• The contract with the surrogate mother is not legally valid.
• The baby not obtaining the nationality of the destination country.
• The intentional parents’ parentage not being recognized.
• The rights of the surrogate mother or the child may be violated.

Furthermore, from an ethical point of view, working with unregulated intermediaries can lead to practices that are not transparent or even exploitative. Surrogacy should always be a respectful, voluntary, and ethically supervised process, something that cannot be guaranteed by an agency that simply acts as a bridge between disconnected parties.

Lack of accountability for problems

Perhaps one of the most worrying aspects is that intermediary agencies do not take any real responsibility if something goes wrong. If the clinic fails to comply, if there are legal errors, if the surrogate mother backs out or if the baby cannot leave the country, the intermediary usually hides behind the fact that they were only an “advisor” with no operational powers. This leaves the parents completely defenseless and unable to make any claims.

On the other hand, an agency that designs and executes its own programs, with its own staff in the country where the surrogacy takes place, can make real commitments and offer contractual guarantees. The difference is enormous.

Conclusion: choosing wisely means protecting your future

Surrogacy is one of the most important decisions a person or couple can make. It involves time, money, emotions, and often years of waiting and hoping. Therefore, it cannot be left to amateurs, commission agents, or unstructured intermediaries.

Hiring an agency with a real presence, proven experience, its own programs, and offices in the country where the process takes place, as is the case with Gestlife, is a guarantee of security, transparency, and success. With 196 employees and a direct presence in 11 countries, Gestlife does not depend on third parties to develop its programs, but offers a comprehensive and direct service, eliminating intermediaries and reducing risks.

When starting a surrogacy process, it is essential to be well informed, compare options, and be wary of magic solutions or those that are too cheap. What is at stake is not just a service, but the life of a future child and the well-being of an entire family.