If you are considering using a gestational carrier or surrogate to help you start or grow your family and want to use an agency, it is important to do your homework first. Couples who put their trust in a Maryland and Tampa-based service, The Surrogacy Group, are now left wondering what is next in their surrogacy journey.

The Attorney General’s offices in both Florida and Maryland have initiated legal actions designed to halt the company’s activities. Although the business was dissolved in September 2018, it is apparently still operating in Florida.

Allegations include complaints on both sides of the surrogacy relationship, with intended parents complaining they paid for services but didn’t receive contracted-for surrogacy services. On the other side of the relationship, surrogates who agreed to provide services for The Surrogacy Group’s clients have complained that they were not paid.

While the company told prospective parents that money paid would be placed into an escrow account, in reality that wasn’t what was happening. Instead, The Surrogacy Group was simply placing their clients’ money into their own bank accounts. Intended parents claim that, after paying for services, their communication attempts and requests for refunds/cancellations went unanswered. Surrogates who expected reimbursements or fee payments allegedly didn’t receive the monies they were owed.

Contracting with an agency or third-party provider to help you grow your family is a major decision. Of course, nobody would likely intentionally choose to work with a disreputable provider. Knowing what type of questions to ask and what type of due diligence to conduct can go a long way in helping you screen potential options.

When you work with a knowledgeable, experienced surrogacy attorney, you can have peace of mind knowing you have some contractual protections in place, should something go awry. To find out more about how The Surrogacy Law Center helps would-be parents realize their dreams and protect their rights and interests, contact us today.