7 Best Surrogacy Agencies in Illinois (2026)

Illinois is widely regarded as one of the most surrogacy-friendly states in the country — and the agencies serving it reflect that reputation. The Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act (750 ILCS 47/), on the books since 2005, makes surrogacy contracts fully enforceable by statute. That is something most states simply cannot offer. In December 2025, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Equality for Every Family Act (HB2683), removing the genetic-link requirement for intended parents and expanding access for all family types.

Chicago is where the strongest legal framework and the most active surrogate market in the Midwest meet. Unlike Georgia, where permissibility rests on the absence of prohibition, or New York, where surrogacy was illegal until 2021, Illinois built a clear legal foundation for surrogacy two decades ago — and has been strengthening it ever since.

This guide compares seven of the best surrogacy agencies in Illinois for 2026, evaluated for both intended parents and surrogates. Physician’s Surrogacy appears first — we’re transparent about that — and every other agency has earned its placement based on verifiable facts.

7 Best Surrogacy Agencies in Illinois

Here is a quick comparison of the top agencies, followed by a full breakdown of each. Surrogate pay figures reflect published first-time surrogate compensation. IP total cost estimates reflect full journey costs including agency fees, surrogate compensation, medical, legal, and insurance. All figures are as of 2026.

1. Physician’s Surrogacy (Serves Illinois)

Illinois’s Gestational Surrogacy Act sets the strongest statutory baseline in the country — enforceable contracts, mandated escrow, and a court-free parentage process. What the law doesn’t touch is the clinical model.

The statute requires surrogate qualifications and mandates escrow, but it doesn’t require that any physician employed by the agency review a surrogate’s records or consult on her care. That gap between legal compliance and clinical accountability is exactly where Physician’s Surrogacy operates differently from every other agency serving the state.

Onsite board-certified obstetricians design the surrogate screening protocol, monitor clinical communications after every appointment, and conduct peer-to-peer consultations with a surrogate’s managing OB anywhere in Illinois when complications arise. 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.

Illinois surrogates never travel to California. All pre-screening and prenatal care are coordinated with local Chicago-area fertility clinics, including the Fertility Centers of Illinois and CCRM Chicago. Learn more about surrogate compensation and what’s included in the flat-rate package.

For Intended Parents

• Four-tier Flat-Rate Surrogacy program. Tiers from $145,000 to $255,000 with no agency fees due until match confirmation. Full detail at our surrogacy cost guide.
• One-week average match time. Compared to an industry standard of 6–12 months. See how one-week matching works.
• Preterm delivery rate 50% below the national average. The direct result of physician-designed screening that goes beyond what Illinois statute requires.
• Optional OB-ordered antenatal testing. NIPT, NT Sonogram, AFP Quad Screen, and Fetal Echocardiogram — no other agency serving Illinois offers these onsite.
• 24/7 multilingual coordinator access. International program including WeChat support — relevant for Chicago’s large international intended parent community.

For Surrogates

• Flat-rate package starting at $60,000+. Total compensation is clear from day one — no surprise deductions, no fine-print adjustments tied to insurance or location.
• $1,250 screening completion bonus. Paid to every approved applicant before pregnancy confirmation.
• Experienced surrogates can earn more on each subsequent journey.
• All funds secured in escrow before the journey begins — meeting and exceeding what Illinois statute already mandates.
• Surrogate age window: 20.5–40.5. BMI below 35 required; women with BMI between 35 and 37 are evaluated case-by-case.

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: Illinois intended parents who want the only physician-led agency serving the state, the fastest matching timeline nationally, and flat-rate pricing with no fees until match. Chicago-area surrogates who want onsite physician oversight, a flat-rate compensation package, and escrow protection that exceeds statutory minimums.

2. ConceiveAbilities (Chicago Headquarters)

ConceiveAbilities was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Chicago — making it the only major national agency on this list with its principal office in Illinois. The agency has over 25 years of surrogacy experience in the Chicago market, with deep relationships at the Fertility Centers of Illinois, Northwestern Medicine, and other Chicago-area IVF programs.

For Chicago-area surrogates, ConceiveAbilities actively recruits locally and provides Illinois-specific community resources: care packages with Chicago-area vendor items, and connections to local mom communities including Chicago North Shore Moms and MamaTribe Chicago.

For Intended Parents

• Chicago-headquartered agency. 25+ years of Illinois-specific surrogacy experience — deeper local knowledge than any national program operating from outside the state.
• “All-In” fixed-fee program at approximately $197,500, covering agency fees, surrogate compensation, and key legal costs.
• Matching Matters® program. Surrogates and intended parents matched on shared values, communication style, and expectations alongside logistics.
• Combined egg donation and surrogacy in a single program.
• Active LGBTQ+ program. Two decades of Illinois LGBTQ+ parentage experience since the agency’s founding.

For Surrogates

• Total compensation up to $75,000+ for first-time Illinois carriers — the highest published first-timer rate among Chicago-headquartered agencies on this list.
• All compensation managed in-house, including escrow, insurance guidance, and financial planning.
• Chicago-specific surrogate community resources and monthly care packages built into the program.
• Full fourth-trimester recovery support built into the program.
• Strong surrogate retention — many Chicago-area surrogates return for second and third journeys.

ConceiveAbilities’ All-In program at $197,500 sits at the higher end of this list’s IP costs. The trade-off is the deepest Chicago-specific infrastructure of any agency here — 25 years of Illinois relationships that national programs operating from outside the state have not replicated. Matching speed of 2–6 months is slower than Physician’s Surrogacy but faster than the industry average.

Best For: Illinois intended parents who want a Chicago-headquartered agency with deep local market knowledge and competitive first-time surrogate compensation. Chicago-area surrogates who want local matching, community connection, and a program with deep Chicagoland roots.

3. Golden Surrogacy (Northbrook, IL — Suburban Chicago)

Golden Surrogacy is a state-licensed Illinois surrogacy agency headquartered in Northbrook — 20 miles north of downtown Chicago. Founded in 2011 by Adam and Frank Golden, a married gay couple who built their own family through surrogacy, it carries a perspective that institutionally run programs rarely replicate.

Golden holds an Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Program License (Certificate No. GS211004), carries a BBB A+ rating, and reports a 99% clinic approval rate for matched surrogates. Operating as a boutique program, every case receives direct, principal-level attention.

For Intended Parents

• Founded by a gay married couple who experienced surrogacy firsthand — built specifically with LGBTQ+ families and non-traditional families in mind.
• Illinois state-licensed (License No. GS211004) — fully compliant with the Gestational Surrogacy Act and updated for the Equality for Every Family Act.
• Agency fee: $35,000–$45,000 depending on service tier, separate from the surrogate compensation package.
• 99% clinic approval rate for matched surrogates — above the industry standard.
• Matching speed: approximately 4–12 months depending on preferences.

For Surrogates

• Minimum $70,000 total compensation for Illinois surrogates — among the highest published floor rates of any Illinois agency.
• Surrogates may negotiate their own compensation rate — Golden accommodates individual packages on request.
• No 1099 issued by the agency.
• Consistent care team throughout the journey — no mid-journey coordinator handoffs.
• Compensation held in escrow and not dependent on the surrogate’s insurance type, employment status, or state of residence.

Golden’s boutique scale is both its strength and its one constraint — approximately 35 births on record means the agency operates at depth over volume. For intended parents who want principal-level attention and a founding team with lived surrogacy experience, that is a feature, not a flaw.

Best For: LGBTQ+ intended parents and anyone who values a Chicago-area agency founded by intended parents, with high surrogate clinic approval rates and genuine boutique attention. Illinois surrogates who want a locally licensed agency, the ability to negotiate compensation, and a consistent care team throughout.

4. Circle Surrogacy (Serves Illinois)

Circle Surrogacy was founded in 1995 by John Weltman, a lawyer and gay dad whose own children were born through surrogacy. The agency serves Illinois intended parents and surrogates across Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and all Illinois communities, and has operated here under the Gestational Surrogacy Act since its passage in 2005.

Circle’s core advantage in Illinois is its legal and financial infrastructure. Attorneys on staff are experienced with the Illinois administrative parentage process, including the pre-delivery filing requirements with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the delivery hospital.

For Intended Parents

• Over 30 years of surrogacy experience nationally, with an active Illinois program serving all major communities.
• Journey Protection Guarantee Program at $189,500, covering agency fees, surrogate compensation, legal work, and key insurance — including unlimited embryo transfers.
• In-house legal team experienced with Illinois’s administrative parentage process and the updated Equality for Every Family Act requirements.
• Journey Protection Escrow: independently managed, 100% funded upfront — exceeds Illinois’s statutory escrow timing requirement.
• Matching speed: 30 days or less for surrogates; 3–9 months for intended parents depending on preferences.

For Surrogates

• Total compensation up to $70,000+, with the full package customized to individual circumstances.
• Journey Protection Pay Promise: 100% guaranteed compensation backed by fully funded escrow from day one.
• Licensed mental health professional assigned to each surrogate for the full journey.
• Post-delivery support through the fourth trimester.
• Match guarantee of 30 days or less for approved Illinois surrogate applicants.

Circle is a non-medical agency — clinical oversight runs through the intended parents’ IVF clinic. Its strength in Illinois is the combination of a three-decade legal track record under the Gestational Surrogacy Act, a financial guarantee structure, and a surrogate support program that goes beyond what Illinois statute requires.

Best For: Illinois intended parents who want a cost-guarantee program, legal expertise in the Illinois administrative parentage process, and a 30-year track record. Chicago-area surrogates who want guaranteed pay, dedicated mental health support, and a nationally recognized program that has served Illinois since the Gestational Surrogacy Act was passed.

5. Illinois Center for Surrogacy (Chicago — West Loop)

The Illinois Center for Surrogacy is a division of Chicago IVF, a multi-location fertility clinic headquartered in Illinois. It is the only surrogacy program on this list that operates from within a fertility clinic — giving it a structural advantage no pure agency can replicate: intended parents and surrogates have direct access to onsite physician care, embryo transfer services, and IVF coordination under one roof.

The program operates out of Chicago IVF’s West Loop office and serves domestic and international intended parents. It publishes three all-in financial packages that bundle surrogate matching, surrogate compensation, required medical screening for both IPs and the surrogate, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, psychological evaluations, insurance review, and medications into a single fixed price — with no hidden line items. That pricing structure is notably transparent for a clinic-based program.

For Intended Parents

• All-inclusive pricing from $100,000–$160,000+. Three tiers: Gestational Surrogate (no donor) $100,000–$145,000; with egg donor $120,000–$160,000; with sperm donor $100,000–$145,000. Pricing bundles most required journey costs including medical procedures.
• Onsite IVF and medical care. Intended parents access physician expertise directly through the Chicago IVF medical team — no separate fertility clinic coordination required.
• International program. Designed for families traveling to Illinois from outside the U.S., with 24/7 concierge support and a streamlined travel model that typically requires only two trips to Illinois for the entire journey.
• LGBTQ+ and single-parent inclusive. All family types served under Illinois’s inclusive statutory framework.
• Free consultation available. No upfront cost to explore program structure and pricing.

For Surrogates

• Surrogate compensation included in all-in packages. The program does not publish standalone surrogate pay figures — compensation is bundled into the IP-facing package price.
• 95% clinic approval rate for matched surrogates — above the industry standard for pre-screened candidate pools.
• 24/7 concierge support from experienced surrogacy advocates throughout the journey.
• Onsite physician care through Chicago IVF. Surrogates have access to the clinic’s medical team for screening, monitoring, and transfer coordination.

The Illinois Center for Surrogacy’s clinic-integrated model is its clearest differentiator — but it also means the program is primarily IP-centric. Standalone surrogate compensation figures are not published publicly, which limits direct comparison for surrogates evaluating agencies side by side. The all-in pricing also does not break out legal fees or certain additional transfer cycles, so intended parents should confirm what is and isn’t covered during their consultation.

Best For: International intended parents who want a Chicago-based, clinic-integrated program with all-inclusive pricing and minimal travel. Illinois intended parents who want onsite IVF and surrogacy coordination under one medical roof. Surrogates interested in a physician-supported program with a high clinic approval rate.

6. Fertility Source Companies (National — Illinois Program)

Fertility Source Companies (FSC) is a nationally operating agency with an active Illinois program and established working relationships with Chicago-area IVF clinics, including the Fertility Centers of Illinois. FSC publishes one of the few clearly stated Illinois-specific surrogate pay figures among national agencies: approximately $65,000 base compensation for first-time Illinois surrogates, paid in monthly installments after fetal heartbeat confirmation.

The agency’s Illinois program covers Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and surrounding communities. FSC’s national surrogate database gives Illinois intended parents access to a pool of pre-screened candidates beyond the local Chicago market — useful when specific matching preferences make local-only matching slower.

For Intended Parents

• Established Illinois clinic relationships. Active working partnerships with the Fertility Centers of Illinois and other Chicago-area IVF programs.
• National surrogate pool. Access to pre-screened candidates from across the country, not limited to Illinois residents.
• Dedicated case management. Assigned coordinators handle appointment logistics, travel, and ongoing journey support throughout Illinois.
• Financing partnerships available. Connections to fertility financing providers for intended parents who need payment options.

For Surrogates

• ~$65,000 published base compensation for Illinois surrogates. One of the few national agencies to publish an Illinois-specific figure. Paid in monthly installments after confirmed fetal heartbeat.
• Additional expenses covered. Medical costs, maternity clothing, travel expenses, and other out-of-pocket costs are covered separately from base compensation.
• Escrow-backed compensation. Funds held in third-party escrow per Illinois statutory requirement.
• Illinois-wide coverage. Active in Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and broader Illinois communities.

FSC does not publish total IP journey costs or average match times for Illinois publicly, which limits direct comparison with agencies that provide full cost transparency. The agency’s national scale means coordinator caseloads may be larger than boutique local programs — something to weigh for intended parents who prioritize high-touch case management.

Best For: Illinois intended parents who want a nationally established agency with direct Illinois clinic partnerships and a broad surrogate pool. Illinois surrogates who want a clearly published state-specific compensation figure and a nationally experienced support team.

7. American Surrogacy (Serves Illinois)

American Surrogacy is a national agency that actively serves Illinois intended parents and surrogates. The agency is fully conversant with the Gestational Surrogacy Act’s requirements and has updated its intake and contracting process to reflect the Equality for Every Family Act changes that took effect in December 2025.

American Surrogacy offers three program tiers, giving Illinois intended parents more budget flexibility than most single-program agencies. Its matching speed of 1–4 months is among the fastest on this list — a result of a large pre-screened surrogate database and a streamlined intake process.

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 fastest programs serving Illinois.
• Every intended parent assigned a dedicated case specialist throughout the process.
• Serves LGBTQ+ families, single intended parents, and unmarried couples under Illinois’s inclusive statute.

For Surrogates

• Illinois surrogate compensation starting at $55,000, with total packages including allowances reaching $110,000+.
• Compensation held in escrow per Illinois statutory requirement.
• Transparent compensation terms disclosed from the first consultation.
• Covered expenses include travel, lost wages, maternity supplies, childcare, and health-related costs.

American Surrogacy’s three-tier structure gives intended parents genuine flexibility — particularly the Independent Program for families who have already identified a surrogate and need coordination support rather than full matching. The Foundation Program carries more financial risk if the journey doesn’t proceed smoothly; the Limited Risk Program offers stronger cost protection.

Best For: Illinois intended parents who want program flexibility, faster-than-average matching, and three clear pricing tiers. Illinois surrogates who want nationally benchmarked compensation, escrow-backed pay, and an experienced case management team.

Illinois Surrogacy Law: What You Need to Know

Illinois’s 750 ILCS 47/ is one of the most detailed and protective surrogacy statutes in the United States. It doesn’t just permit surrogacy — it defines the conditions under which contracts are enforceable, sets minimum surrogate qualifications, and establishes a streamlined administrative path to parentage that bypasses the courts entirely.

For broader context on how Illinois compares to other states, see our surrogacy laws by state guide. Here is what the statute means in practice in 2026.

• Contracts are fully enforceable by statute. The Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act explicitly enforces gestational surrogacy agreements that meet its requirements. Illinois is not operating on equitable arguments or judicial goodwill — the contracts are enforceable by law.
• No court appearance required for parentage. When all statutory requirements are met and certifications are filed with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the delivery hospital before birth, intended parents go directly to Vital Records for the birth certificate. No judge, no hearing. This applies to married and unmarried couples, same-sex couples, and single intended parents equally.
• Escrow is legally mandated. The Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act requires that surrogate compensation be placed in a third-party escrow account before any medical treatment begins. This is a condition of statutory compliance, not a best practice.
• Surrogate qualifications are set by statute. Under the Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act, a surrogate must: be at least 21 years old; have previously given birth; have completed medical and psychological evaluations; hold health insurance covering the full expected pregnancy; and have received legal consultation from an independent, Illinois-licensed attorney.
• Intended parents must demonstrate infertility. Under the Equality for Every Family Act, intended parents must represent that they are experiencing infertility as defined by the Illinois Insurance Code — replacing the previous “medical need” affidavit requirement.
• No genetic connection required — as of December 2025. The Equality for Every Family Act removed the requirement that at least one intended parent contribute a gamete. Families using both donor egg and donor sperm can now access Illinois’s full statutory protections without additional legal steps.
• The surrogate’s attorney must be licensed in Illinois. Under the Equality for Every Family Act, the surrogate’s independent counsel must hold an active Illinois license — and the intended parents are required to pay her legal fees.
• Only the birth needs to occur in Illinois. Neither the surrogate nor the intended parents need to be Illinois residents. Per the Gestational Surrogacy Act, the delivery must take place in the state for Illinois law to apply.
• Illinois has no fetal personhood law. The Illinois Reproductive Health Act explicitly states that embryos and fetuses do not have independent legal rights — none of the abortion-restriction contracting complications found in states like Georgia apply here.

What to Look for in a Chicago Surrogacy Agency

Illinois’s strong statutory framework raises the floor for everyone. Every agency here must comply with the Gestational Surrogacy Act’s escrow mandate, independent counsel requirement, and surrogate qualifications. What separates the best surrogacy agencies in Illinois from the rest are factors the law doesn’t address. See also: choosing a surrogacy agency.

• Medical oversight beyond the statute. Illinois law does not require agencies to employ physicians — all clinical decisions default to the intended parents’ IVF clinic. Only one agency on this list has onsite OB/GYNs who design screening protocols and remain clinically accountable throughout the journey.
• Chicago-area clinic relationships. The Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI), Northwestern Medicine, CCRM Chicago, and InVia Fertility are among the most active gestational carrier programs in the Midwest. Agencies with established protocols at these clinics save meaningful time in an already complex process.
• Equality for Every Family Act readiness. The new law (effective December 2025) changed the genetic-link requirement, updated the infertility affidavit standard, and mandated Illinois-licensed counsel for surrogates. Agencies that have not updated their contracts to reflect HB2683 are operating on outdated documents.
• Full upfront escrow. Illinois mandates escrow before medical treatment begins — but not how the account is funded. Agencies that fund escrow fully upfront provide stronger protection than those that fund it incrementally. Always ask how the escrow is capitalized before signing. Read about surrogate insurance and how it interacts with escrow.
• LGBTQ+ and international experience. Chicago has one of the highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ intended parents in the Midwest. Agencies with a two-decade track record in Illinois LGBTQ+ parentage received additional weight in this evaluation.

How We Evaluated These Agencies

These seven agencies were evaluated on criteria specific to Illinois’s surrogacy environment — including the Equality for Every Family Act requirements that took effect in December 2025. Read our broader guide to top agency selection criteria for a framework that applies nationally.

What Illinois’s Legal Strength Can’t Do for You

Illinois offers something genuinely rare in American surrogacy law: a clear, tested, enforceable statutory framework that protects all parties, eliminates court involvement, and mandates escrow from day one. No other state makes the parentage process as administratively clean when all requirements are met before delivery.

What the Gestational Surrogacy Act doesn’t govern is the clinical quality of the journey. It doesn’t require the agency to employ physicians. It doesn’t set standards for surrogate monitoring between clinic appointments. It doesn’t address what happens when a complication arises at 28 weeks at a hospital the agency has no prior relationship with.

When you’re comparing the best surrogacy agencies in Illinois on those terms, the one that stands apart is the one that closes that clinical gap — not just the legal one. Among agencies serving the state, only Physician’s Surrogacy employs onsite OB/GYNs who protect the pregnancy the same way the statute protects the contract.

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.