What to Expect at a Surrogacy Consultation

 A surrogacy consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. It gives Intended Parents the opportunity to ask questions, understand the process, and determine whether an agency feels like the right fit for their journey.

Booking a consultation with a surrogacy agency can feel like a bigger step than it actually is. It's easy to imagine something formal — a pitch, an interview, pressure to decide something on the spot. In reality, it's closer to a conversation than an evaluation, and knowing what to expect ahead of time makes it much easier to get real value out of it.

Here's what actually happens before, during, and after a surrogacy consultation — and what's worth asking while you have the time.

What Is a Surrogacy Consultation?

At its simplest, a consultation is a meeting with a surrogacy agency you're interested in learning more about. It's not an application, and it's not a commitment — it's a chance for both sides to get acquainted before anyone decides anything.

For intended parents who are still researching whether surrogacy is the right path, or who know it's the right path but haven't picked an agency yet, this is usually the first real conversation in the process — the point where questions that are hard to answer through a website finally get answered directly.

A surrogacy consultation gives Intended Parents the space to ask questions, discuss their timeline, and better understand what the journey may look like before making any decisions.

What to Expect at a Surrogacy Consultation

At Giving Tree, a consultation is an initial video call between intended parents and a member of the Parent Team, typically lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. It's conversational rather than scripted, but a few things do happen on the call:

• The team learns more about you — where you are on your path to parenthood, and what you're hoping your family will look like.

• You'll hear about Giving Tree Surrogacy directly: our programs and costs, how the process works, and what a typical journey actually looks like from matching through birth.

• Every question gets answered — no question is too big or too small at this stage, including the ones that feel awkward to ask.

• You'll talk through your timeline for parenthood, so the conversation reflects your actual situation rather than a hypothetical one.

  
  

Nothing about the call requires you to have it all figured out beforehand. Part of its purpose is helping you figure out what you don't know yet.

Questions You Can Ask at a Consultation

A consultation works best as a two-way conversation. It can be helpful to have some questions in mind for topics to cover:

• How do you match surrogates and intended parents?

• How do you screen your surrogates?

• How long does the surrogacy process typically take?

• Does Giving Tree work with our fertility clinic?

• Do we need a lawyer, or do we have to find one on our own?

If something else is on your mind — cost, timeline pressure, a specific medical situation — a consultation is exactly the setting to bring it up directly, rather than trying to piece together an answer from research alone.

What Happens After a Consultation

A consultation isn't a final step — it's a starting point. Afterward, you'll typically connect with an Intended Parent Consultant to complete a more detailed questionnaire, and learn more information about specific programs and plans that fit your needs and goals.

That next conversation is usually where things get more specific: program options, estimated costs, and a clearer picture of what your particular timeline could look like.

After a surrogacy consultation, intended parents gain clearer next steps, more personalized guidance, and a better understanding of which program best fits their goals, timeline, and budget.

Why Parents Choose Giving Tree

Every agency conversation is also a chance to evaluate fit. A few reasons why intended parents consistently choose Giving Tree:

None of that replaces the value of hearing it directly on a call, in the context of your specific situation — which is exactly what a consultation is for.

Book a Free No Obligation Consultation Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a surrogacy consultation the same as applying to become an intended parent?

No. A consultation is an introductory conversation with no commitment attached, that happens after you fill out a parent inquiry form. Once you’ve had a consultation, completing a questionnaire, and choosing a specific program typically come afterward, once you've had a chance to ask questions and decide if it feels like the right fit.

How long does a surrogacy consultation last?

At Giving Tree, consultations are typically 30 to 60 minutes, conducted over video between intended parents and a member of the Parent Team.

What should I bring to a surrogacy consultation?

Nothing formal is required. It helps to have a rough sense of your timeline and any specific questions about cost, clinic compatibility, or the matching process — but there's no paperwork or preparation needed beforehand.

Do I need a lawyer before my consultation?

No. Legal representation typically comes later in the process, and it's a reasonable question to ask directly during your consultation rather than something you need to arrange in advance.

What happens if I'm not ready to move forward after my consultation?

That's completely normal!. A consultation exists to help you figure out whether now is the right time and whether a given agency is the right fit — there's no obligation to proceed afterward.

Conclusion

A surrogacy consultation is lower-stakes than it sounds — a conversation meant to answer your questions and help you understand what a journey with a specific agency would actually look like, not a test to pass or a decision to make on the spot.

Take the first step toward building your family:

Fill out our parent form