Two Miami agencies can give you very different estimates even when their coordination fees are similar. One estimate might assume you already have embryos and a clinic. Another might include appointments and services you still need to arrange. Before the first meeting, write down what you’ve already done, which professionals you’re working with, and what decisions are still open. That gives the agency enough context to explain where its work would begin.
For a first look at the cost of a surrogate mother in Miami, Loom’s local guide lists expenses to ask about, from clinic fees to legal costs. Take that list to your consultation and ask which figures the agency can give you and which need to come from a clinic, an attorney or an insurance specialist.
If you’re also considering a clinic in Tampa, Loom’s guide to surrogacy in Tampa has a checklist for reviewing a written budget. Use the same list in both consultations so you can see which fees cover the same services and which depend on the clinic you choose.
Ask what the estimate assumes
Start with any services you’ve already paid for. If embryos are stored at another clinic, ask who would confirm whether the proposed clinic can receive them and whether storage or transport would be billed separately. If you’re still exploring whether donor services are part of your plan, ask which figures depend on that decision. Keep those items separate so you can compare estimates that start from the same point.
Ask to see what an itemized estimate looks like. For each line, note who charges the fee, when they expect payment, and what the charge covers. Check whether the estimate includes independent legal advice for the surrogate and whether it assumes any particular insurance coverage. Ask who would review the actual policy before you rely on it.
Ask when the next payment would be due if the clinic needed another month to review records. If you’ve already paid an initial fee, ask whether it carries over and whether rescheduling would add a charge. Get the answer in writing, especially if you’re coordinating travel or transferring embryos.
Ask how the agency would support your family
If you’re looking for support as an LGBTQ+ family, ask whether the agency can put you in touch with independent Florida counsel early in the process. Ask how the coordinator would keep both intended parents informed and who would handle questions that need an answer from the clinic or your attorney.
Ask about the surrogate’s support as well. Find out how she can choose and reach her own lawyer and whom she can contact privately if a question comes up. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s ethics guidance emphasizes independent legal counsel and the surrogate’s authority over her medical care. If the conversation turns to how updates will be shared, ask how the agency helps everyone agree on what they are comfortable sharing and when.
Leave with a list of decisions to make
If you live outside South Florida, ask which early conversations can happen remotely and where you’d need to be for any in-person appointment. A Miami agency address can tell you where the coordinator works. Ask for the clinic’s address separately and wait for the clinic to confirm what requires your presence before making travel plans.
At the end of the meeting, ask for a written breakdown of the quoted fees and the items still waiting on a clinic, attorney or insurer. If you speak with another agency, give it the same clinic and embryo details so both estimates start from the same point.
