7 Best Surrogacy Agencies in Michigan (2026)

Michigan is one of the newest surrogacy-friendly states in the country. The Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act (ARSPA) — also called the Michigan Family Protection Act — took effect on April 2, 2025.

Before that date, Michigan was the only state in the nation to both criminalize and ban compensated surrogacy contracts. The 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act made them void, unenforceable, and subject to criminal penalty. The 2024 law reversed that entirely.

Michigan now permits compensated gestational surrogacy, enforceable surrogacy agreements, and pre-birth parentage orders — no court hearing required. Physician’s Surrogacy, the nation’s only OB/GYN-managed surrogacy agency, actively serves Michigan surrogates and intended parents.

This guide compares the seven best surrogacy agencies in Michigan for 2026 — covering surrogate compensation, intended parent costs, physician oversight, and local presence. Michigan is also consistently listed among the best states for surrogacy in the U.S.

7 Best Surrogacy Agencies in Michigan

The table below compares all seven agencies at a glance. Surrogate pay reflects published first-time surrogate figures. Intended parent (IP) totals cover the full journey — agency fees, surrogate compensation, medical, legal, and insurance. All figures are as of 2026.

1. Physician’s Surrogacy (National — OB/GYN-Managed)

Physician’s Surrogacy is the only surrogacy agency in the United States managed by practicing OB/GYNs.

That clinical structure produces measurable results. Preterm birth rates run 50% below the national average — driven by a physician-designed screening protocol that accepts roughly 8% of all applicants.

Michigan surrogates receive a fixed-rate package of $55,000–$75,000+. They also receive a $1,250 screening bonus before pregnancy confirmation — paid before most agencies offer anything.

Intended parents pay one all-in price starting at $140,000–$170,000+. No agency fees are owed until a match is confirmed.

Review surrogate compensation details or surrogacy costs for intended parents.

For Intended Parents

• OB/GYN oversight throughout. Practicing physicians lead surrogate screening and coordinate directly with Michigan’s delivering OB. No coordinator-only model.
• Flat-Rate Surrogacy model. One transparent price starting at $140,000–$170,000+. No agency fees until match confirmed.
• One-week average match time. No wait list. Immediate availability for Michigan families.
• Medically Cleared Program. Michigan surrogates who complete pre-match medical and psychological clearance can be transfer-ready in as little as 4 weeks after legal finalization.
• National program structure. Physician’s Surrogacy serves Michigan families seamlessly regardless of distance from San Diego.

For Surrogates

• Fixed-rate package of $55,000–$75,000+. Compensation is set from day one — no adjustments tied to location, insurance, or other variables.
• $1,250 screening bonus paid before pregnancy confirmation. One of the only pre-confirmation payments in the industry.
• Pre-pregnancy monthly payments are part of total compensation, not added as a separate line item.
• Physician-designed screening means only the healthiest candidates carry — reducing complication risk for Michigan surrogates and their families.
• Surrogate age window: 20.5–40.5. BMI up to 35 accepted. Women with BMI 35–37 are still encouraged to apply.

Physician’s Surrogacy has no physical Michigan office. All clinical coordination connects with Michigan IVF clinics remotely — a structure that works well for both in-state and out-of-state intended parents.

Best For: Michigan intended parents who want physician-managed clinical oversight, an immediate match, and a fully transparent flat-rate pricing structure. Also ideal for Michigan surrogates who want a fixed-rate package and a pre-match screening bonus.

2. Hope Surrogacy (Royal Oak, Michigan)

Hope Surrogacy is a full-service agency headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan — serving surrogates and intended parents statewide from Detroit to Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids.

The agency uses a surrogate-set compensation model. Hope recommends surrogates request a base of $35,000–$40,000, with total compensation landing between $60,000 and $70,000.

Surrogates work directly with the founding team: Mary, Amy, Krista, and Jenn.

For Intended Parents

• Michigan-based and statewide. Local team with presence across Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and surrounding communities.
• Boutique agency model. Intended parents work directly with the founding team rather than being handed off to a coordinator.
• Michigan ART attorney partnerships. The agency connects families with Michigan-licensed Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) attorneys experienced under the new ARSPA framework.
• LGBTQ+ inclusive. Serves all family structures regardless of sexual orientation, marital status, or genetic connection.

For Surrogates

• Surrogate-set compensation. Surrogates propose their own rate rather than accepting a fixed agency-assigned figure. Total package: $60,000–$70,000.
• Local support team. Michigan-based staff throughout the journey — not a remote case manager in another time zone.
• Direct access to founders. Surrogates interact with Mary, Amy, Krista, and Jenn directly, not through layers of coordination staff.
• Midwestern values, personal touch. Small caseloads allow for genuine attention at each stage of the journey.

Hope does not publish IP total journey costs. Intended parents should request a full cost breakdown during the initial consultation. The surrogate-set compensation model gives surrogates more negotiating flexibility — but it also means IPs cannot easily compare costs upfront without an intake call.

Best For: Michigan surrogates who want to set their own rate and work with a locally based, founder-led team. Intended parents who prefer a boutique Michigan agency over a national program.

3. Gift of Life Surrogacy (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)

Gift of Life Surrogacy has two physical offices — Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (just outside Detroit) and Sylvania, Ohio (near Toledo).

It is one of a small number of agencies nationally that fully screens all surrogate candidates before matching them with intended parents (IP).

That pre-match screening is led by a physician on staff — Dr. F. Nicholas Shamma, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and founder of IVF Michigan Fertility Center. Surrogates at Gift of Life receive $60,000–$70,000 in total compensation, covering first-time through experienced carriers.

For Intended Parents

• Physician on staff. Dr. Shamma, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, is a founding member of the agency and leads medical oversight — not an outside contractor.
• Full pre-match screening. All surrogate candidates complete medical, psychological, and background screening before any match is presented. IPs receive pre-vetted candidates only.
• Michigan and Ohio coverage. Dual-office presence covers the Metro Detroit market and northwest Ohio corridor effectively.
• In-house infertility nurse, attorney, and social workers. A multidisciplinary team reduces dependence on third-party referrals at each step.

For Surrogates

• $60,000–$70,000 published compensation range. Covers first-time through experienced carriers with no ambiguity about the range.
• Physician-supervised screening. Medical clearance is conducted by a reproductive endocrinologist before matching — not a contracted clinic unfamiliar with surrogacy protocols.
• Infertility nurse on staff. Surrogates have direct access to nursing expertise throughout the medical phase — not just at the IVF clinic.
• Surrogate community. The agency includes former gestational carriers on its team, providing peer support at a level coordinator-only agencies cannot replicate.

Gift of Life does not publish full IP journey costs. The agency’s intake call should cover agency fees, surrogate compensation, and clinic cost estimates. The pre-match screening model does add time to the initial process — but families who have experienced a late-stage disqualification elsewhere generally view the upfront investment as worthwhile.

Best For: Michigan intended parents who want the deepest pre-match surrogate vetting available from a local agency with physician oversight on staff. Surrogates who want physician-supervised medical screening and a multidisciplinary support team.

4. Golden Surrogacy (National — Active Michigan Program)

Golden Surrogacy has served Michigan surrogates and intended parents for over a decade — operating across Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and surrounding communities.

The agency’s compensation guarantee is its clearest differentiator: $70,000 minimum for first-time Michigan surrogates. All IP funds are held in third-party escrow before medical procedures begin. The agency was co-founded by former intended parents.

For Intended Parents

• Statewide Michigan coverage. Active matching across Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and beyond.
• Co-founded by former IPs. The founding team navigated their own surrogacy journeys and built the agency around the gaps they experienced.
• Escrow-first policy. All IP funds deposited in third-party escrow before medical procedures begin — protecting both parties from mid-journey financial exposure.
• LGBTQ+ inclusive. Serves all family structures and orientations.

For Surrogates

• $70,000 guaranteed minimum. No “up to” language. $70,000 is the floor for all first-time Michigan surrogates, regardless of location or insurance.
• Pre-pregnancy payments totaling $12,500. Strong pre-confirmation payment structure.
• Compensation not adjusted for location or insurance. Golden does not reduce surrogate pay based on factors many agencies use to lower the effective rate.
• Experienced surrogate premium. Repeat surrogates earn above the $70,000 floor.

Golden does not publish IP total costs or average match times. Intended parents should request a full breakdown during the initial consultation. The agency operates remotely for Michigan families — no in-state office.

Best For: Michigan surrogates who want the clearest guaranteed compensation minimum in this comparison. Intended parents who want a founder team with lived IP experience and strong statewide matching reach.

5. Fertility Source Companies (National — Michigan Clinic Network)

Fertility Source Companies (FSC) is a nationally operating agency with an active Michigan program and published state-specific figures on both sides. First-time Michigan surrogates earn a $65,000 base — paid in eight monthly installments from confirmed fetal heartbeat. Total IP journey costs run $160,000–$175,000.

FSC’s Michigan program is supported by clinic partnerships across Detroit, Grand Rapids, Sterling Heights, and Ann Arbor. The $30,000 agency fee is structured in milestone-tied installments.

For Intended Parents

• Published total cost: $160,000–$175,000. One of the clearer MI-facing cost disclosures available before the intake call.
• Active Michigan clinic partnerships. Established relationships with IVF centers across Detroit, Grand Rapids, Sterling Heights, and Ann Arbor.
• $30,000 agency fee in milestone installments. Reduces upfront financial exposure at journey start.
• National surrogate pool. Michigan IPs access FSC’s nationwide database — not limited to in-state candidates.

For Surrogates

• $65,000 published base for Michigan. Eight-payment structure from fetal heartbeat confirmation. A $350/month expense allowance runs throughout.
• Staff RN reviews past pregnancies. A registered nurse on staff audits surrogate health history before acceptance — not just a coordinator checklist.
• Surrogate age requirement: 21–43. Broader than some agencies.
• Access to domestic and international IPs. Michigan surrogates match with a broader pool than local-only agencies provide.

FSC has no physical Michigan office — coordination is fully remote. Families on tighter budgets should compare closely against other agencies with lower total cost ranges.

Best For: Michigan IPs who want clearly published total journey costs and active clinic relationships statewide. Michigan surrogates who want structured base compensation with published milestone payments.

6. Circle Surrogacy (National — Active Michigan Program)

Circle Surrogacy was founded in 1995 and is one of the oldest agencies in the U.S. It actively serves Michigan families from its Boston headquarters. Circle has been operating in states that legalized surrogacy well before Michigan’s 2025 law — bringing that depth of legal and medical coordination experience to a new market.

Circle’s Circle Surrogate Promise is a standout surrogacy protection program. Circle financially backs intended parents so surrogate escrow accounts are always funded. It also takes on liability for certain medical billing complications — a protection most agencies do not offer.

For Intended Parents

• 30 years of agency experience. One of the oldest surrogacy agencies in the U.S., with a large national infrastructure supporting new Michigan journeys.
• Global intended parent pool. Serves families from 70+ countries — relevant for Michigan surrogates who want broad IP matching options.
• MatchMade™ process. Personality and values-based matching beyond clinical and geographic criteria.
• Strong international legal infrastructure. Particularly well-suited for international IPs pursuing Michigan journeys.

For Surrogates

• Circle Surrogate Promise. Guarantees surrogate escrow is always funded. Circle takes on liability for certain medical billing complications — a level of financial protection rare in the industry.
• Compensation customized per surrogate. Not published publicly. Michigan surrogates should request a full breakdown before engaging.
• Access to a global IP pool. Michigan surrogates can match with domestic and international families.

Circle does not publish Michigan-specific compensation ranges or IP total costs. Families who need cost data before engaging will find Fertility Source Companies more immediately transparent. Circle’s strength is depth of experience and surrogate financial protections.

Best For: Michigan IPs with international backgrounds or complex multi-jurisdiction needs. Michigan surrogates who want the strongest escrow and medical billing protections available from a nationally established agency.

7. American Surrogacy (National — Michigan Program)

American Surrogacy is headquartered in Olathe, Kansas with an active Michigan program. First-time Michigan surrogates can earn $55,000–$110,000+ — one of the widest published pay ranges in the state.

The agency publishes a 1–4 month match time and operates on a 1:1 surrogate-to-IP ratio.

The Limited Risk Program covers unlimited rematches and refunds on specified unused fees if no embryos remain and no birth has occurred. Total Michigan journey costs run $150,000–$179,000+.

For Intended Parents

• Limited Risk Program. Financial protection against repeated failed transfers and post-termination unused-fee losses.
• 1–4 month published match time. Faster than the 6–12 month industry standard, though slower than Physician’s Surrogacy’s one-week average.
• Michigan legal familiarity. Works with Michigan-licensed ART attorneys experienced in ARSPA contract requirements and pre-birth order filings.
• Serves all family structures. LGBTQ+, single parents, and donor-gamete families without restriction.

For Surrogates

• $55,000–$110,000+ published MI range. The widest published first-time compensation range in this comparison.
• Monthly payment structure. Base pay in 10 monthly installments after pregnancy confirmation.
• Statewide MI coverage. Active across Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and surrounding communities.

American Surrogacy has no physical Michigan office. Surrogate screening relies on contracted medical professionals rather than an in-house clinical team — a meaningful distinction for families evaluating medical oversight.

Best For: Michigan surrogates who want a clearly published pay range with an experienced surrogate premium. IPs who want financial downside protection through the Limited Risk Program.

Michigan Surrogacy Law: What You Need to Know

Michigan’s legal framework changed dramatically on April 2, 2025. The Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act (Act 24 of 2024, MCL 722.1901 et seq.) — also called the Michigan Family Protection Act — repealed the 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act and replaced it with one of the most comprehensive surrogacy statutes in the country.

• Michigan was the only state to criminalize compensated surrogacy — until 2025. Under the 1988 law (MCL 722.851), compensated surrogacy contracts were void and unenforceable — and carried criminal penalties up to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine. The 2024 law repealed this ban entirely. As of April 2, 2025, compensated surrogacy is fully legal and protected in Michigan.
• Pre-birth parentage orders are available — no court hearing required. Under MCL 722.1908, the court may issue a judgment of parentage before or after the child’s birth. The pre-birth order takes effect at birth. No in-person hearing is required — the petition must be accompanied by attorney certifications confirming the agreement meets all statutory requirements.
• Michigan has a flexible nexus rule — not a strict residency requirement. Under MCL 722.1902, the surrogacy agreement is valid if at least one of the following applies: at least one party is a Michigan resident; the birth occurs or is anticipated in Michigan; or the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedure is performed in Michigan. Out-of-state IPs can pursue Michigan journeys without living here.
• Independent Michigan-licensed legal counsel is mandatory for all parties. Under MCL 722.1902, each intended parent and the surrogate must have separate, independent legal representation from a Michigan-licensed attorney throughout the agreement. The intended parents must pay for the surrogate’s legal representation.
• The agreement must be executed and notarized before any medical procedures begin. Under MCL 722.1902, all parties must sign the surrogacy agreement and have it attested by a notarial officer before any procedure related to the surrogacy — except screening evaluations and mental health consultations — takes place.
• The surrogate retains full health and welfare decision-making rights. Under MCL 722.1903, the surrogacy agreement must explicitly permit the surrogate to make all health and welfare decisions regarding herself and the pregnancy — including decisions about cesarean section and multiple embryo transfer. Any contractual provision to the contrary is void and unenforceable.
• Donors have no parental rights. Under MCL 722.1903(5), a donor is not a parent of a child conceived by assisted reproduction under a surrogacy agreement by virtue of genetic connection alone. This protection applies to sperm, egg, and embryo donors.
• All family structures are covered. The ARSPA explicitly prohibits discrimination based on marital status, gender, and sexual orientation. Married couples, unmarried couples, same-sex couples, single parents, and international IPs all have equal access to Michigan’s surrogacy framework.
• The surrogate must meet minimum statutory requirements. Under MCL 722.1902, the surrogate must be at least 21 years old, have previously given birth to at least one child, complete medical and psychological evaluations, and have independent legal representation throughout. If the surrogate is married, the spouse must also be a party to the agreement.
• This law is brand new — early practice is still forming. The ARSPA took effect April 2, 2025. Court timelines, Vital Records procedures, and county-level practices are still developing. Work with a Michigan-licensed ART attorney who has active experience filing under this statute — not just general family law practitioners.

What to Look for in a Michigan Surrogacy Agency

Michigan’s ARSPA sets strong statutory standards for surrogacy agreements and parentage. But it sets no minimum bar for the agencies that coordinate journeys under it.

Any business can operate as a Michigan surrogacy agency without a license. These five criteria separate strong agencies from weak ones in this market.

• ARSPA-experienced legal network. Michigan’s law is less than one year old. Ask each agency which Michigan ART attorneys they work with and whether those attorneys have active experience filing pre-birth order petitions under MCL 722.1908 since April 2025. Early-mover legal expertise matters here more than in long-established surrogacy states.
• Physician oversight model. Ask specifically who performs surrogate screening and what clinical credentials they hold. Michigan’s statute requires mental health and medical evaluations — but sets no minimum standard for the agency role in clinical oversight. The difference between coordinator-led and physician-led screening is measurable in outcomes.
• Pre-match vs. post-match screening. Michigan is a new surrogacy market. Surrogate candidate pools are forming for the first time. Ask whether agencies complete full medical, psychological, and background screening before presenting a surrogate profile — or after a match interest is expressed. Pre-match screening reduces late-stage disqualification risk.
• Compensation transparency. Michigan’s market spans $60,000 to $70,000+ for first-time surrogates, depending on the agency. Ask whether the published figure is a guaranteed minimum or a ceiling. Also confirm whether compensation is a fixed-rate package or a base pay structure with separate add-ons billed later.
• Escrow funding timing. Michigan law does not mandate escrow funding sequences. Agency practices vary. Confirm that all IP funds are in a third-party escrow account before any medical procedures begin — protecting surrogate payment security at every stage of the journey.

How We Evaluated These Agencies

This comparison was built on direct research into each agency’s publicly available materials, published compensation and cost data, Michigan legal affiliations, and verifiable state presence. Five criteria were applied consistently across all seven agencies.

Choosing a Michigan Surrogacy Agency in 2026: Where to Start

Michigan’s surrogacy law is one of the most comprehensive in the country. The ARSPA protects surrogates, IPs, donors, and children — and it does so with a framework built on best practices from the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017.

Surrogacy sits at the intersection of modern medicine and profound human generosity. The best surrogacy agencies in Michigan bring both to the table: physician oversight at the screening level, ARSPA-experienced legal counsel, and compensation structures built for transparency from day one.

Michigan surrogates ready to take the first step can start at our become a surrogate page. Intended parents can schedule a consultation with our team — no agency fee is owed until your match is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Julianna Nikolic

Chief Strategy Officer Julianna Nikolic leads strategic initiatives, focusing on growth, innovation, and patient-centered solutions in the reproductive sciences sector. With 26+ years of management experience and a strong entrepreneurial background, she brings deep expertise to advancing reproductive healthcare.