Maybe you have a friend who offered to carry for you. Maybe you have joined a Facebook group and feel you can do this on your own. Maybe you are looking at the cost and wondering whether an agency is worth it.
All of those are fair places to start, and independent surrogacy is a real path in Canada. Let me tell you what it looks like, and when I would encourage a different route.
What independent surrogacy means
You find and screen your surrogate yourself, then arrange the clinic, lawyers, counselling, insurance and reimbursements on your own, without an agency managing it. It can be a good fit when you already know your surrogate, such as a friend or relative, and you are organised.
What you take on
- Finding a surrogate. This is the hardest part for most people.
- Screening and background checks.
- Coordinating clinics and lawyers in more than one province, in some cases.
- Managing reimbursements and escrow with receipts and rules.
- Handling hard moments such as a failed transfer or a disagreement, with no neutral person in the room.
Cost comparison
Agency fees across Canada commonly fall between $18,000 and $30,000. At CSO, programs start from $1,500 (Independent Journey), $9,500 (Foundation), $19,500 (Guided Journey) and $29,500 (Priority Match), plus HST, and the agency fee is paid in three equal stages. The complete journey, including surrogate reimbursements, legal and clinic costs, typically runs $80,000 to $120,000 CAD.
Going without an agency removes that line, but you may need to pay more elsewhere (for example, additional legal time or hiring a consultant), so the savings can be smaller than they look.
Where independent works best
- You already have a known surrogate
- You are comfortable managing lots of moving parts
- You have a reproductive lawyer and a supportive clinic lined up
- You have the time and energy to do the coordination
Where an agency helps most
- You do not have a surrogate yet
- You want screening done by people who do it every day
- You want a neutral team when emotions run high
- You want help with escrow, documentation and timelines
- You are coming from outside Canada
The middle path
Our Independent Journey is made for people who want to run their own journey but do not want to do it blind. You get a full checklist, referrals, templates and calls as needed, starting from $1,500. If you later decide you want more help, you can move into a fuller program.
How to decide
Ask yourself:
- Do I already have a surrogate I trust?
- Do I have the time to manage this for 18 months or more?
- Who will be the neutral voice if we disagree?
- What would I want in place if something went wrong?
There is no wrong answer. There is only the answer that fits your family.
Related reading: Can You Do Surrogacy Without an Agency in Canada? The Honest Answer
Want a number for your own family? Try our surrogacy cost calculator for an honest estimate in a couple of minutes.
Book a free consultation at calendly.com/cso-robyn and we will map out what each path would look like for you.
From hope to heartbeat to home.