I was recently interviewed for an article in Spear’s looking at the rise in uptake of US Surrogacy by ultra-high-net-worth clients. It focuses on highly managed surrogacy journeys in the United States, where intended parents can access concierge-style support, bespoke matching processes and comprehensive legal and medical coordination.
The article highlights how such services are shaping expectations and experiences in the U.S. market, while also underscoring the ways financial resources can influence the journey. But while such high-end services exist, it’s worth remembering that most intended parents navigate surrogacy without even a fraction of these resources.
Indeed, significant financial resources can add layers of coordination, convenience and choice. However endless resources do not replace the core elements that make surrogacy work: clarity, trust and a well-structured process. You may outsource some of the complexity with wealth, but you can’t remove it entirely.
Money or not, intended parents everywhere are engaging in surrogacy and exploring the options that are accessible to them. Understanding why people make these choices, including going abroad and spending significant resources in an emotionally challenging journey, is an equally important conversation.
Why intended parents look overseas
In my work advising families from across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia, I often speak with people about pursuing surrogacy in a country other than their own. In many cases, the reason is clear: surrogacy simply isn’t accessible at home. Even so, I always ask them why they chose to pursue surrogacy abroad, and over time, I’ve noticed the same three reasons consistently emerge.
- Legal Accessibility – Surrogacy may be restricted, heavily regulated, or outright illegal in their home country, so going abroad is the only viable option.
- Quality and Reliability of Services – Families often seek countries with established clinics, experienced agencies, and clear legal frameworks to increase the likelihood of a smooth and safe process.
- Cost and Practical Considerations – While cost isn’t the only factor, some families consider financial feasibility, travel logistics, or the availability of specific medical or donor options that are limited or unavailable at home.
Legal Accessibility: How law shapes the journey
In destinations like the United States, intended parents can often be recognised as the legal parents from birth through pre-birth orders. In contrast, in countries like the UK and Australia, parenthood is only transferred after birth through court processes.
That difference shapes decision-making, timelines and the level of confidence intended parents feel throughout the journey. For many , the choice to go abroad is driven by where the legal framework allows them to establish parentage with clarity and certainty.
Quality and reliability
Much of the discussion around surrogacy focuses on cost, particularly in the US. While some journeys can be expensive, these figures reflect the complexity of the process. Surrogacy is a coordinated effort involving medical professionals, legal experts, counsellors and support teams.
A typical journey may include:
- IVF and other medical treatments
- Legal agreements and parentage processes
- Screening and matching with surrogates
- Counselling for both surrogate and intended parents
- Insurance and contingency planning
As mentioned in Spear’s article, some agencies offer highly tailored, concierge-style services, while others provide well-structured, reliable pathways without extra personalisation. Most intended parents make decisions somewhere in between, choosing the level of coordination that fits their circumstances.
At its core, surrogacy is about managing complexity and reducing risk. Families are investing not just in an outcome, but in a framework designed to guide them safely and confidently through the journey. This is precisely why we have a provider verification process! To ensure families are connected with trusted, reliable professionals as they navigate the surrogacy journey.
Related reading: Growing Families Provider Verification
Practical considerations: Cost, logistics, and accessibility
While legality and quality often guide decisions, practical factors also play a role. Travel logistics, costs and access to specific medical or donor options can influence where intended parents pursue surrogacy.
It’s important to remember though that these considerations are rarely about luxury. They are usually about finding a viable path . Families make decisions based on what is accessible and workable for their circumstances.
The limits of control
Good practice is built on informed consent, clear communication and mutual respect. Agreements may outline expectations around health, travel, or communication but they are never about controlling another person’s life.
Surrogates are making a considered decision to help someone have a family. Agencies support that relationship rather than over-engineering it. Intended parents and surrogates frequently form strong, respectful relationships that extend beyond the birth. Surrogates are not defined by the compensation they receive, just as intended parents are not defined by what they spend. Reducing surrogacy to a financial transaction misses the personal motivations and significance of the journey.
Surrogacy is becoming more common globally due to advances in IVF, changing family structures, and broader social acceptance. At the same time, uneven regulation continues to shape where people go. When local systems don’t provide clarity or protection, families will look elsewhere. Not out of preference, but because their options are limited.
