Tips for avoiding delays during your US surrogacy journey

 A US surrogacy journey is a challenging process with lots of moving parts, and delays can occur for various reasons—personal, medical, legal or logistical. In this blog, we’ll share key tips for avoiding delays (as far as possible) during your US surrogacy journey and highlight how Brilliant Beginnings can help you have a smoother experience, avoiding some of the pitfalls of navigating the process independently.

Expert guidance and trusted US partners

The first step in avoiding delays is partnering with top quality surrogacy organisations which keep their promises. There is so much choice in the US that it can be difficult to know who to work with. Brilliant Beginnings connects you only with carefully vetted US-based fertility clinicians, surrogacy agencies, and specialist lawyers. The fact that we do not accept referral fees means that our advice is based entirely on our 15 years of experience and our commitment to working with only the highest quality professionals.

Staying ahead of legal changes: Brilliant Beginnings and NGA Law

With NGA Law as our sister organisation, the Brilliant Beginnings US Pathway gives you the backing of leading legal support. Whenever there have been unexpected legal difficulties for international surrogacy (including a pandemic and a war in Ukraine) NGA Law has been at the forefront of finding solutions, so we have a long history of making change and advocating for our community effectively. We also work very closely with leading surrogacy lawyers in the US around the world, many of whom take a similar role in their own countries. It means you have solid legal backing if anything changes along the way, with solution-focused lawyers right behind you.

Clear communication with your surrogate

Good communication between you and your surrogate is crucial to a smooth surrogacy journey, and supports your child’s positive birth story too. The agencies Brilliant Beginnings work with are chosen because they understand the importance of fostering open communication and strong relationships between intended parents and surrogates. This helps avoid misunderstandings, ensures expectations are aligned, and ultimately reduces delays, frustrations and the risk of needing a re-match.

Experienced medical support and flexibility

Medical delays can and do occur during surrogacy, whether due to issues creating embryos, unsuccessful embryo transfers, or health screening issues with you (if providing eggs or sperm) or your surrogate. Brilliant Beginnings partners with a number of different leading fertility clinics in the US that specialise in IVF for international surrogacy and apply the highest standards of care. These clinics offer cutting edge treatment plans and proactive monitoring to help maximise your chance of success and prevent delays. They are also chosen for their excellent communication and ability to provide flexible options and solutions, so that if medical difficulties do arise they have the least possible impact on your timeline. Navigating this independently can leave you without the same level of support, leading to unnecessary complications.

Post-birth legal support

Once your baby is born and you are registered on the US birth certificate, the US legal process is complete. However, you also need to establish your legal parenthood in the UK. Our sibling organisation NGA Law has managed more parental order applications than any other UK law firm and knows how to make the system work and to avoid pitfalls, ensuring an efficient process to get you to a smooth High Court hearing. Having a dedicated team supporting you makes a significant difference in avoiding unnecessary complications.

So how long does a US surrogacy journey take?

We normally advise parents to expect it to take at least 18 to 36 months from engaging us to bringing their baby home (plus the time it takes for your UK court application). US surrogacy is a complex process, with a lot of different people involved and many factors that can affect timelines. It’s important to be realistic and to start your journey expecting it to be a marathon rather than a sprint. With our US pathway service, you will be better equipped to handle any delays that arise confidently and efficiently. From expert guidance and trusted US partners to clear communication and legal support, Brilliant Beginning and NGA Law ensure a smoother, more manageable surrogacy journey than navigating the process alone.