6 Best Surrogacy Agencies in New York (2026)

New York made surrogacy history on February 15, 2021, when the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA) took effect — legalizing compensated gestational surrogacy for the first time in state history.

The CPSA also created one of the most protective legal frameworks for surrogates anywhere in the country. Critically, New York became the first state in the nation to require surrogacy agencies to be licensed by the New York State Department of Health. That licensing requirement is not a formality — any agency matching surrogates who live or deliver in New York must meet rigorous state standards, or they cannot legally operate as a matching program here.

For intended parents and surrogates in New York, the best surrogacy agencies in New York aren’t just the ones with the best marketing. They’re the ones that are licensed, compliant with the CPSA, and equipped to navigate a legal process that is meaningfully more detailed than most other states. This guide covers six agencies evaluated for both audiences. Physician’s Surrogacy appears first — we’re transparent about that — and every other agency has earned its place based on verifiable facts.

New York Surrogacy Law: What You Need to Know

New York’s surrogacy framework, established by the Child-Parent Security Act, is widely considered the most comprehensive in the country. Before comparing agencies, here is what the law actually requires — because unlike most states, these rules apply specifically to the agencies themselves, not just the contracts.

• Agency licensing is mandatory. Any matching program working with New York-resident surrogates must be licensed by the New York State Department of Health. Unlicensed agencies cannot legally facilitate matches involving NY surrogates. This is unique to New York — no other state requires this.
• The Surrogate’s Bill of Rights is enforceable by law. NY law guarantees surrogates the right to independent legal counsel (paid by intended parents), comprehensive health insurance through 12 months post-delivery, life insurance of up to $750,000, mental health counseling, the right to make all healthcare decisions about her own body, and the right to walk away from the agreement before pregnancy without penalty.
• Compensation must be held in a mandatory, independent escrow account. Unlike most states where escrow is a best practice, in New York it is a legal requirement. Funds must be held by a third party before any medical procedures begin.
• Pre-birth parentage orders are available. The CPSA allows intended parents to obtain a pre-birth order establishing legal parentage — available to all family types regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or genetic connection to the embryo.
• Intended parents must have U.S. citizenship or residency. At least one intended parent must be a U.S. citizen, or a lawful permanent resident who has lived in New York for at least six months. International intended parents who do not meet this requirement cannot use the CPSA framework.
• Agencies are prohibited from providing legal services. Under the CPSA, surrogacy matching programs cannot also serve as legal counsel for either party. Each side must retain an independent, New York-licensed attorney.

One important nuance for intended parents: the New York State Department of Health handles birth records for all counties in the state — but not for New York City’s five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island).

NYC birth records are maintained separately by the NYC Department of Health. Your attorney should know this distinction and prepare accordingly before delivery.

What to Look for in a New York Surrogacy Agency

Because all licensed NY agencies must comply with the CPSA’s baseline protections, the floor here is higher than in most states. What separates the best agencies from average ones in New York comes down to factors beyond basic compliance.

• Medical oversight — the one thing the CPSA doesn’t mandate. New York law requires ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) screening guidelines be followed, but it doesn’t require that the agency itself employ physicians. Most agencies coordinate with the IVF clinic for all medical decisions. Only one agency in the state has in-house OB/GYNs managing the surrogacy program directly.
• Manhattan presence and NYC clinic relationships. New York City’s fertility clinic network — RMA of New York, NYU Langone Fertility, Weill Cornell Reproductive Medicine, CCRM-NY — is among the deepest in the world. Agencies with established relationships at these clinics can move faster and coordinate more smoothly.
• LGBTQ+ experience in NYC’s specific legal context. New York City and the surrounding metro area have one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ intended parents in the country. Agencies with dedicated expertise in LGBTQ+ parentage under the CPSA — particularly for unmarried couples and international parents — are meaningfully better positioned to serve this community.
• CPSA-specific legal infrastructure. The CPSA’s requirements go beyond most state surrogacy laws. Agencies that have navigated hundreds of New York journeys under this statute understand the fine print — estate planning requirements, the NYC birth record exception, the five-borough nuance — in ways newer entrants do not.
• Matching speed. New York’s surrogate pool has grown significantly since the CPSA took effect in 2021. Agencies with strong NY-based recruitment and pre-screening programs can match much faster than the national average.

6 Best Surrogacy Agencies in New York

Here is a quick comparison, followed by a full breakdown of each agency.

1. Physician’s Surrogacy (Serves New York)

New York City is home to some of the most competitive fertility clinics in the world — RMA of New York, NYU Langone Fertility Center, and Weill Cornell Reproductive Medicine among them. Physician’s Surrogacy coordinates directly with these clinics, bringing something no other licensed agency in the state can offer: board-certified obstetricians employed by the agency itself.

These physicians oversee screening, monitor clinical communications after every appointment, and can consult peer-to-peer with a surrogate’s managing OB if complications arise — anywhere in New York State. In a state with the CPSA’s high regulatory bar, this distinction matters more than ever.

Every licensed NY agency must follow ASRM and ACOG screening guidelines. Only Physician’s Surrogacy has in-house OB/GYNs who designed those protocols and who remain clinically accountable after match. Whether a surrogate is being monitored at a fertility clinic in Westchester or coordinating care on Long Island, an OB employed by the agency — not a coordinator — is accountable for clinical decisions.

The agency is headquartered in San Diego and serves intended parents and surrogates nationwide. The Advisory Board includes specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, neonatal care, and OB/GYNs. New York surrogates never travel to California — pre-screening and prenatal care are coordinated with local NY clinics.

For Intended Parents

• Flat-Rate Surrogacy program starting at $140,000–$170,000+, with no agency fees until a match is confirmed.
• Average match time of one week — compared to an industry standard of 6–12 months and Circle Surrogacy’s 30-day guarantee.
• Preterm delivery rate 50% below the national average — a direct result of physician-designed screening that exceeds what the CPSA mandates.
• Optional OB-ordered antenatal testing: Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), NT Sonogram, AFP Quad Screen, and Fetal Echocardiogram — options no other licensed NY agency can provide in-house.
• 24/7 multilingual coordinator access; international program including WeChat support — particularly valuable for New York City’s large international intended parent population.

For Surrogates

• Fixed-rate package of $55,000–$75,000+, with New York surrogates earning based on experience and local cost-of-living.
• Monthly household allowance, maternity clothing stipend, and milestone bonuses throughout the journey — all within the fixed package disclosed upfront.
• All funds secured in escrow before the journey begins — meeting and exceeding the CPSA’s mandatory escrow requirement.
• 3–6 months of post-delivery support — longer than most agencies publicly offer.
• The Medically Cleared Program allows surrogates to complete medical and psychological clearance before matching, compressing the timeline from match to embryo transfer to as little as four weeks.

The one limitation worth noting: Physician’s Surrogacy focuses exclusively on gestational surrogacy and does not offer egg donation services within the same program.

Best For: New York intended parents who want the only physician-led agency in the state, the fastest matching timeline, and flat-rate pricing with no fees until match. New York surrogates who want the strongest medical safety program available, with CPSA-compliant protections and in-house physician oversight above and beyond what the law requires.

2. Circle Surrogacy (Licensed — Manhattan Office)

Circle Surrogacy was founded in 1995 by John Weltman, a lawyer and gay dad whose own children were born through surrogacy. It is the longest-tenured full-service agency actively licensed in New York, with a physical office at 270 Lafayette Street in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood.

Circle’s New York presence is more than a mailing address. The agency has maintained licensed operations in the state since the CPSA took effect and has deep relationships with New York City’s top IVF clinics. The Manhattan team includes staff members who are themselves parents through surrogacy, and the agency runs regular in-person events for New York City and Tri-state area intended parents — including monthly support groups and quarterly meetups in the city.

For Intended Parents

• Licensed in New York and fully CPSA-compliant, with over 30 years of surrogacy experience nationally.
• Manhattan office at 270 Lafayette Street — the only major national agency with a physical NYC location.
• Journey Protection Guarantee Program at $189,500, covering agency fees, surrogate compensation, legal work, and key insurance — including unlimited embryo transfers.
• Journey Protection™ Escrow: independently managed and 100% funded upfront — meets and exceeds the CPSA’s mandatory escrow requirement.
• In-house legal team with deep experience in the CPSA’s parentage proceedings, including the NYC five-borough birth record nuance.
• Matching speed: 30 days or less for surrogates; 3–9 months for intended parents depending on preferences.
• Established relationships with top NYC fertility clinics built over 30 years.

For Surrogates

• Total compensation up to $70,000+, with the full package customized to individual circumstances under the CPSA framework.
• Circle Surrogate Promise: a program exclusive to Circle that guarantees compensation security, dedicated mental health support, and post-delivery care through the fourth trimester.
• Every NY surrogate is assigned a licensed mental health professional for the full journey — going beyond the CPSA’s counseling requirement.
• Over 50% of Circle’s surrogates are return carriers or referrals — a strong indicator of surrogate satisfaction.
• Match guarantee of 30 days or less for approved NY surrogate applicants.
• Exclusive community access for New York surrogates, with in-person meetups and support groups in the city.

Circle is a non-medical agency — clinical oversight comes through the intended parents’ IVF clinic, not agency-employed physicians. Its distinctive strength in New York is the combination of a licensed Manhattan presence, a three-decade legal track record under complex ART law, and a surrogate support program that sets the benchmark for the industry.

Best For: New York City and Tri-state area intended parents who want a physically present, fully licensed agency with in-house legal expertise and a financial guarantee program. Surrogates in New York who want the most robust surrogate support program available, with dedicated mental health professionals and a strong community in the city.

3. ConceiveAbilities (Licensed — NYC Clinic Partnerships)

ConceiveAbilities was one of the first national agencies to obtain a New York State license when the CPSA took effect. Founder Nazca Fontes was featured in news coverage when compensated surrogacy became legal in New York — the agency had been advocating for the CPSA and was positioned to operate in the state from day one.

ConceiveAbilities maintains direct partnerships with some of New York’s most prominent fertility clinics, including CCRM-NY, NYU Langone Fertility Center, RMA of New York, Shady Grove Fertility in NYC, and Weill Cornell Reproductive Medicine. For NY surrogates, this means working with a national agency that has been deeply embedded in the state’s IVF ecosystem since the law changed.

For Intended Parents

• Licensed in New York and CPSA-compliant from day one of the new law.
• Direct clinic partnerships with CCRM-NY, NYU Langone Fertility, RMA of New York, Shady Grove Fertility NYC, and Weill Cornell Reproductive Medicine.
• Nearly 30 years of operation with a national track record.
• “All-In” fixed-fee program at approximately $197,500, covering agency fees, surrogate compensation, and key legal costs.
• Matching Matters® program focuses on long-term compatibility — surrogates and intended parents are matched on shared values and communication style alongside standard logistics.
• Matching speed: approximately 2–6 months.
• Combined egg donation and surrogacy in a single program.

For Surrogates

• Total compensation up to $75,000 for first-time carriers — among the highest published first-timer rates nationally, available to New York surrogates as well.
• Full fourth-trimester recovery support built into the program.
• New York surrogates are connected to an extensive local resource network — including doula groups like DoulaViva Births and NYC Birth City Doulas, fertility communities like Fertility Rally, and volunteer groups like New York Cares.
• Strong surrogate retention — many surrogates return for second and third journeys.
• Pre-pregnancy compensation available.

The compensation ceiling ($75,000 for first-time carriers) is the highest among fully-licensed NY agencies on this list. The trade-off is longer match timelines than agencies with pre-cleared surrogate pools, and total intended parent costs at the higher end of the range.

Best For: New York surrogates who want the highest first-time compensation nationally and deep local resource connections in the city. Intended parents who want combined egg donation and surrogacy services with strong NYC clinic relationships and long-term surrogate compatibility matching.

4. Hatch Fertility (Licensed — Serves New York)

Hatch Fertility was founded in 1991 and was among the first national agencies to obtain a New York State license under the CPSA. Based in Los Angeles, Hatch serves NY intended parents and surrogates while maintaining CPSA compliance — including mandatory escrow, NY-licensed legal counsel, and all Surrogate’s Bill of Rights requirements.

The agency’s core strength in New York, as nationally, is its integrated egg donation and surrogacy program. For NYC-based intended parents who need both services, Hatch’s single-program model — with access to the largest fresh egg donor database in the U.S. — reduces coordination complexity considerably.

Physician oversight comes through a partnership with Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles (PFCLA) rather than in-house OB/GYNs employed by the agency itself.

For Intended Parents

• Licensed in New York — fully CPSA-compliant with mandatory escrow and independent legal representation coordinated for both parties.
• Over 30 years of operation, with more than 8,000 successful journeys facilitated nationally.
• Combined egg donation and surrogacy in a single program — meaningful for NYC intended parents who need both.
• Rigorous screening accepting only the top 5% of surrogate and egg donor candidates.
• “Peace of Mind Program”: all-inclusive pricing covering unlimited egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and surrogate rematches until live birth.
• Estimated total costs: $160,000–$225,000+ depending on program and journey variables.
• Matching speed: approximately 3–10 months.

For Surrogates

• Total compensation starting at $61,100 for first-time New York surrogates, increasing by $10,000 for each subsequent completed journey.
• All required NY CPSA protections in place: comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, independent legal counsel, and escrow-held compensation.
• Additional benefits include medical and legal clearance bonuses, lost wages coverage, childcare allowances, and multiples/C-section bonuses.
• Staff composed largely of former surrogates and egg donors, with firsthand experience on the surrogate side.

For New York surrogates, Hatch’s compensation starting at $61,100 is competitive relative to most licensed NY programs. For intended parents who need the integrated egg donation and surrogacy model, Hatch is one of the only licensed NY agencies that offers both under one roof.

Best For: New York intended parents who need egg donation and surrogacy in the same program, or who want the financial certainty of an unlimited-transfer guarantee package. Surrogates who value working with a highly established agency staffed by people with firsthand surrogacy experience.

5. Family Inceptions (Licensed — Serves New York)

Family Inceptions is a national agency that holds a New York State Department of Health license and actively serves surrogates and intended parents in New York City, Albany, Long Island, and surrounding areas. The agency was founded by Eloise Drane, and the team is known for building close, personal relationships with surrogates over multi-journey partnerships — the agency’s Google reviews consistently highlight individual coordinators by name.

Family Inceptions describes its approach as inclusivity-first: the agency openly serves all family types and actively builds a surrogate community called the “Surro Sisters Society” that provides peer connection alongside professional support. For surrogates in New York who want a sense of belonging beyond transactional agency support, this community-driven model is genuinely distinctive.

For Intended Parents

• Licensed in New York — fully CPSA-compliant.
• Serves NYC, Albany, Long Island, and surrounding areas.
• Full-service support from matching through birth, with financial planning options to help families manage journey costs.
• LGBTQ+-inclusive program — the agency explicitly prioritizes same-sex couples and single intended parents.
• Total costs not publicly disclosed; provided upon consultation.

For Surrogates

• Strong surrogate retention: multiple surrogates in their Google reviews describe returning for second and third journeys specifically because of coordinator relationships.
• Surro Sisters Society: a dedicated surrogate community providing peer support throughout the journey.
• All CPSA-required protections in place: independent legal counsel, comprehensive health and life insurance, mandatory escrow-held compensation.
• Total compensation not publicly disclosed; provided upon consultation.

Family Inceptions publishes less compensation and cost data than other agencies on this list — prospective surrogates and intended parents will need to request a consultation for specifics. The agency’s genuine strengths are surrogate relationships and community, not transparency of published numbers.

Best For: New York surrogates who prioritize long-term coordinator relationships, a strong peer community, and an agency where individual attention is more important than published data points. LGBTQ+ intended parents in the NYC area who want an inclusivity-first agency with proven surrogate connections.

6. American Surrogacy (Serves NY Intended Parents — Not Licensed for NY Surrogates)

American Surrogacy is a national agency with strong program infrastructure and three flexible program tiers. One critical disclosure upfront: American Surrogacy is not licensed by the New York State Department of Health as a gestational surrogacy organization.

Under the CPSA, this means they cannot legally match intended parents with surrogates who reside in New York or who will deliver in New York. What they can do — and actively do — is match New York-based intended parents with carefully screened surrogates from other surrogacy-friendly states, such as California, Texas, or Florida.

Many NY intended parents pursue this path, particularly if they have geographic flexibility. The CPSA legal framework still applies to the intended parent’s side of the journey. The surrogate’s legal protections, however, are governed by whatever state she resides in.

For Intended Parents

• Three program tiers: Limited Risk Program ($202,500+) with coverage for failed transfers and rematches; Foundation Program ($187,500+) with a lower upfront cost; Independent Program ($24,000+) for coordination-only when a surrogate is already identified.
• Matching speed: 1–4 months — one of the faster national programs.
• NY intended parents matched with surrogates from other states maintain access to NY’s legal protections for their side of the journey.
• Every intended parent is assigned a dedicated case specialist throughout the process.
• Compensation managed through a licensed third-party escrow service.

For Surrogates

• American Surrogacy does not accept or match New York-resident surrogates. If you are a surrogate in New York, you must work with a DOH-licensed agency. American Surrogacy is not one of them.

For NY intended parents open to working with an out-of-state surrogate and who want competitive matching speed and program flexibility, American Surrogacy is a practical option. For NY-resident surrogates, it is not an option under current state law.

Best For: New York intended parents who are open to out-of-state surrogates and want program flexibility with faster-than-average matching. Not suitable for New York-resident surrogates who must work with a DOH-licensed agency.

How We Evaluated These Agencies

These six agencies were evaluated on criteria specific to the New York surrogacy environment — not just national agency metrics.

The Question Every New York Surrogate and Intended Parent Should Ask

New York’s CPSA has set the highest legal bar for surrogacy protection in the country. Every surrogate working with a licensed NY agency gets independent legal counsel, mandatory escrow, comprehensive health and life insurance, and the right to make her own healthcare decisions — by law. That floor doesn’t exist in Florida, Texas, or most other states.

What the CPSA doesn’t require is physician oversight at the agency level. It requires compliance with ASRM and ACOG screening guidelines — but those guidelines can be followed by a coordinator working with an IVF clinic, not a physician.

The gap between legal compliance and clinical excellence is exactly where Physician’s Surrogacy sits above every other licensed agency in New York. For intended parents asking which of the best surrogacy agencies in New York delivers both the legal protections the CPSA demands and the medical oversight no other agency provides, talk to our team — no commitment required.

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.