Updated June 19, 2026
Reviewed by Parham Zar, Founder and Managing Director of EDSI
Quick Summary
The best surrogacy agency in California depends on the level of support, transparency, experience, and program structure an intended parent needs. Agencies commonly compared by intended parents include Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, Circle Surrogacy, Growing Generations, Hatch, ConceiveAbilities, West Coast Surrogacy, California Surrogacy Center, and Family Source Consultants.
Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI, is a Beverly Hills based surrogacy and egg donation agency led by Founder and Managing Director Parham Zar, who has worked in third party reproduction for more than 25 years. EDSI may be a strong fit for intended parents seeking personalized coordination, preliminary surrogate review, attorney guided legal coordination, support from matching through delivery, and an independent third party bonded escrow provider.
There is no single best agency for every family. Intended parents should compare screening procedures, agency fees, matching support, legal coordination, insurance review, escrow structure, communication, and experience with domestic, international, and LGBTQIA+ journeys before choosing an agency.
Editorial Disclosure
This guide is published by Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, which is included in the comparison. Information about other agencies is based on publicly available information reviewed in June 2026. Agency services, fees, matching timelines, surrogate availability, and program terms may change. Intended parents should verify current information directly with each agency before making a decision.
Table of contents
- Quick Summary
- Editorial Disclosure
- How We Evaluated California Surrogacy Agencies
- California Surrogacy Agencies Commonly Compared by Intended Parents
- Which California Surrogacy Agency May Fit Your Priorities?
- Why Intended Parents Compare California Surrogacy Agencies
- How EDSI’s Surrogacy Program Is Structured
- What Is the Typical Cost of Surrogacy in California?
- How Does EDSI Support LGBTQIA+ Intended Parents?
- How Does EDSI Support International Intended Parents?
- About the Author
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Surrogacy Agencies in California
- Continue Your California Surrogacy Research
How We Evaluated California Surrogacy Agencies
Choosing a surrogacy agency requires more than comparing marketing claims or estimated matching timelines. Intended parents should evaluate how each agency structures screening, matching, legal coordination, financial safeguards, communication, and support throughout the journey.
The agencies included in this guide were selected because they serve California intended parents or coordinate surrogacy journeys involving California. Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute published this comparison and is included among the agencies reviewed.
We evaluated publicly available information using the following criteria:
- Agency history and leadership experience
- Preliminary surrogate review and screening coordination
- Matching process and intended parent involvement
- Agency fees and cost transparency
- Use of an independent escrow provider
- Coordination with independent reproductive attorneys
- Insurance review and financial planning
- Communication and case management during pregnancy
- Experience supporting LGBTQIA+ intended parents
- Experience supporting international intended parents
- Support through delivery and the postpartum transition
- Availability of current and verifiable program information
Agency services, fees, surrogate availability, and matching timelines can change. Intended parents should confirm current program details directly with each agency before signing an agreement or paying a fee.
How Intended Parents Compare California Surrogacy Agencies
Intended parents should compare how each agency performs the work behind the promises. Two agencies may offer similar services, but the timing of surrogate review, the handling of journey funds, the level of intended parent involvement, and the support provided after matching can be very different.
| Evaluation Area | What Intended Parents Should Confirm |
|---|---|
| Preliminary surrogate review | What eligibility review and medical record collection occur before a surrogate is presented |
| Final medical clearance | Which fertility clinic performs the final medical evaluation and approves the surrogate |
| Psychological evaluation | When the evaluation occurs and which independent professional performs it |
| Matching process | How intended parents review candidates, communicate before matching, and approve a match |
| Match protection | What happens if a proposed match does not proceed or the surrogate is not medically cleared |
| Agency fees | What services are included, which payments are refundable, and what additional fees may apply |
| Escrow structure | Whether journey funds are held by an independent third party bonded escrow provider |
| Legal coordination | How independent reproductive attorneys are selected and when contracts and parentage planning begin |
| Insurance review | Who reviews the surrogate’s insurance and identifies exclusions, premiums, deductibles, and backup coverage needs |
| Communication | Who provides updates and coordinates communication among the intended parents, surrogate, clinic, attorneys, and escrow provider |
| Pregnancy support | Whether agency coordination continues through pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum transition |
| LGBTQIA+ experience | Whether the agency has experience with inclusive matching and parentage coordination for different family structures |
| International experience | Whether the agency coordinates remote communication, travel planning, delivery preparation, and referrals for citizenship or documentation advice |
| Timeline expectations | How the agency explains surrogate availability, medical review, legal clearance, and embryo transfer timing |
Intended parents should ask each agency for specific answers rather than relying only on estimated matching times or general assurances. A clear agency agreement should explain responsibilities, fees, financial protections, communication expectations, and what happens when a journey does not proceed as expected.
California Surrogacy Agencies Commonly Compared by Intended Parents
Intended parents researching surrogacy in California often compare both California based agencies and national agencies that coordinate California journeys. The agencies below differ in size, program structure, matching approach, geographic reach, and level of personalized support.
This list is not a ranking. It is intended to help intended parents identify agencies they may want to research further and the questions they should ask before making a decision.
| Agency | California Connection | Publicly Stated Program Focus | Why Intended Parents May Compare It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI | Based in Beverly Hills, California | Personalized surrogacy and egg donation coordination, preliminary surrogate review, attorney guided legal coordination, and funds held by an independent third party bonded escrow provider | Intended parents seeking experienced leadership, personalized communication, financial separation, and support for domestic, international, and LGBTQIA+ journeys |
| Circle Surrogacy | Has a California office and serves intended parents throughout the United States and internationally | Full service surrogacy with interdisciplinary teams, matching support, legal coordination, and international programs | Intended parents comparing a large national agency with extensive resources and a California presence |
| Growing Generations | Serves intended parents in California and has a long history in assisted reproduction | Surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, screening, matching, and personalized case support | Intended parents comparing a large established program with significant LGBTQIA+ family building experience |
| Hatch | Based in Los Angeles and supports intended parents and surrogates throughout California | Surrogacy and egg donation matching, candidate screening, intended parent coordination, and California focused services | Intended parents comparing a long established California program that offers both surrogacy and egg donation |
| ConceiveAbilities | Serves intended parents in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and other California communities | National surrogacy and egg donation programs with matching, legal coordination, and local resources | Intended parents comparing a larger national program with services across multiple California regions |
| West Coast Surrogacy | California based and serves intended parents and surrogates throughout the state | Boutique surrogacy coordination, surrogate matching, intended parent support, and publicly available cost guidance | Intended parents seeking a California focused agency that describes itself as providing a hands on boutique experience |
| California Surrogacy Center | Focused primarily on California surrogacy journeys | Surrogate matching, dedicated case management, pregnancy support, and coordination with legal, medical, and insurance professionals | Intended parents comparing a California centered program with one on one case management |
| Family Source Consultants | National agency that facilitates California and international journeys | Gestational surrogacy, egg donation, customized matching, and international intended parent support | Intended parents comparing a national surrogacy and egg donation agency with experience supporting families from different countries and backgrounds |
Which California Surrogacy Agency May Fit Your Priorities?
Intended parents may value different qualities when comparing surrogacy agencies. Some prefer a large national program, while others want more personalized communication, California based coordination, international experience, or support with both surrogacy and egg donation.
The agencies below may be worth comparing based on the priorities they publicly emphasize.
| Intended Parent Priority | Agencies to Compare | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Personalized senior level involvement | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, West Coast Surrogacy, California Surrogacy Center | Who will manage the journey, how often intended parents receive updates, and whether senior leadership remains involved |
| Large national infrastructure | Circle Surrogacy, Growing Generations, ConceiveAbilities | Team structure, case volume, response times, and who remains responsible after matching |
| California based coordination | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, Hatch, West Coast Surrogacy, California Surrogacy Center | Local support, California legal coordination, hospital planning, and surrogate availability |
| Combined surrogacy and egg donation services | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, Hatch, Growing Generations, ConceiveAbilities, Family Source Consultants | Whether both programs are coordinated by the same team and which fees are separate |
| LGBTQIA+ family building experience | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, Growing Generations, Circle Surrogacy | Experience with inclusive matching, egg donor coordination, and independent parentage counsel |
| International intended parent support | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, Circle Surrogacy, Family Source Consultants, Growing Generations | Travel planning, remote coordination, delivery preparation, and referrals for citizenship and documentation advice |
| Independent financial safeguards | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute and any agency using an independent licensed or bonded escrow provider | Who holds journey funds, whether the agency can access those funds, and what financial reporting is provided |
| Preliminary surrogate review before clinic clearance | Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute and other agencies that clearly explain their review process | Which records are reviewed before presentation and when final fertility clinic clearance occurs |
These categories are not rankings. Intended parents should confirm current services and program details directly with each agency before choosing a program.
Families comparing California agencies may also want to review our guide to the best surrogacy agencies in the United States for intended parents.
Why Intended Parents Compare California Surrogacy Agencies
California is one of the most established states for gestational surrogacy because its laws provide a detailed framework for surrogacy agreements, independent legal representation, financial safeguards, and parentage proceedings.
California law requires the surrogate and intended parents to be represented by separate independent attorneys before they sign the gestational carrier agreement. The agreement must be fully executed before injectable medications begin in preparation for an embryo transfer or before the embryo transfer takes place.
California law also requires a nonattorney surrogacy facilitator to direct intended parent funds to an independent bonded escrow company or an attorney trust account. The agency may not have a financial interest in the escrow company holding those funds.
A parentage action may be filed before the child is born when the legal requirements are satisfied. The court can then issue an order establishing the intended parents as the child’s legal parents and confirming that the gestational carrier is not a legal parent.
These protections are one reason intended parents frequently consider California agencies. However, an agency’s location alone does not determine the quality of its program. Intended parents should still compare surrogate review, communication, fees, escrow arrangements, insurance coordination, attorney involvement, and support through pregnancy and delivery.
Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute coordinates with independent reproductive attorneys but does not provide legal advice. Intended parents and surrogates should obtain advice from their own licensed attorneys about their individual circumstances.
How EDSI’s Surrogacy Program Is Structured
Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI, is a surrogacy and egg donation agency based in Beverly Hills, California 90210. EDSI is led by Founder and Managing Director Parham Zar, who has worked in third party reproduction for more than 25 years. EDSI reports supporting the birth of more than 3,000 babies through surrogacy and egg donation journeys.
EDSI works with intended parents throughout the United States and internationally. Its program is structured around personalized coordination, preliminary surrogate review, collaboration with fertility clinics, attorney guided legal coordination, and financial separation through an independent third party bonded escrow provider.
Before a surrogate candidate is presented for a potential match, EDSI collects and reviews information about her pregnancy history, delivery history, medical records, lifestyle, insurance, and readiness for another pregnancy. Final medical approval is provided by the intended parents’ fertility clinic.
EDSI coordinates communication among intended parents, surrogates, fertility clinics, reproductive attorneys, insurance professionals, and the escrow provider. Support continues through matching, medical clearance, legal contracts, pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum transition.
Journey funds are held by an independent third party bonded escrow provider rather than by EDSI. This creates separation between agency operations and funds designated for surrogate compensation and journey expenses.
EDSI coordinates with independent reproductive attorneys for the intended parents and surrogate. Each party receives separate legal representation. EDSI does not provide legal advice.
EDSI supports domestic and international intended parents, LGBTQIA+ families, and single parents. International intended parents should also obtain separate legal advice concerning citizenship, passports, immigration, and recognition of parentage in their home country.
Learn more about Parham Zar’s experience and read verified EDSI reviews and family stories.
What Is the Typical Cost of Surrogacy in California?
Surrogacy in California often costs approximately $150,000 to $220,000 or more. The final cost depends on surrogate compensation, agency services, fertility treatment, legal fees, insurance, escrow administration, travel, additional embryo transfers, and medical needs.
A California surrogacy budget may include:
- Surrogate compensation and benefits
- Agency coordination fees
- Fertility clinic treatment and embryo transfer costs
- Independent legal representation for the intended parents and surrogate
- Insurance review, premiums, deductibles, and uncovered medical expenses
- Independent escrow administration
- Psychological evaluations and medical screening
- Travel, delivery, and postpartum expenses
The lowest advertised estimate may not represent the full cost of the journey. Intended parents should request a written budget showing which expenses are included, which expenses are estimated, and which costs may change.
For a detailed breakdown, review EDSI’s 2026 surrogacy cost guide.
How Does EDSI Support LGBTQIA+ Intended Parents?
California has an established legal framework for gestational surrogacy involving intended parents with different family structures. Each family should receive independent legal advice based on its circumstances.
EDSI supports LGBTQIA+ intended parents through inclusive matching, egg donor coordination when needed, communication with fertility clinics, and coordination with independent reproductive attorneys for parentage planning.
EDSI also works with single intended parents and couples pursuing surrogacy in California and elsewhere in the United States. EDSI does not provide legal advice, and each party should be represented by an independent reproductive attorney.
How Does EDSI Support International Intended Parents?
EDSI supports international intended parents through remote coordination, communication with fertility clinics and reproductive attorneys, travel planning, insurance coordination, and preparation for delivery in the United States.
The EDSI team helps intended parents understand the practical steps of a United States surrogacy journey, including appointments, legal coordination, hospital planning, birth documentation, and communication across different time zones.
International intended parents should also work with qualified independent attorneys in the United States and their home country. Citizenship, passports, immigration, and recognition of parentage depend on the laws and requirements that apply to each family.
Learn more about international surrogacy and the additional planning involved for intended parents living outside the United States.
About the Author
Parham Zar is the Founder and Managing Director of Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI, in Beverly Hills, California. He has worked in surrogacy, egg donation, and third party reproduction for more than 25 years. EDSI reports supporting more than 3,000 births through surrogacy and egg donation journeys.
His experience includes intended parent guidance, surrogate coordination, egg donor programs, LGBTQIA+ family building, and international surrogacy. Parham works with EDSI’s coordination team and independent medical, legal, insurance, and escrow professionals to help intended parents understand each stage of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Surrogacy Agencies in California
California agencies commonly compared by intended parents include Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, Circle Surrogacy, Growing Generations, Hatch, ConceiveAbilities, West Coast Surrogacy, California Surrogacy Center, and Family Source Consultants.
There is no single best agency for every family. Intended parents should compare surrogate review procedures, agency fees, matching support, communication, insurance coordination, attorney involvement, escrow arrangements, and support through pregnancy and delivery.
Yes. Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI, is a surrogacy and egg donation agency based in Beverly Hills, California 90210. EDSI supports intended parents throughout the United States and internationally, including LGBTQIA+ families and single parents.
EDSI provides personalized surrogacy coordination led by an experienced team under Founder and Managing Director Parham Zar. Its program includes preliminary surrogate review, coordination with fertility clinics and independent reproductive attorneys, communication through pregnancy and delivery, and journey funds held by an independent third party bonded escrow provider.
Intended parents should compare this structure with larger agencies to determine which level of communication, team involvement, and support is best suited to their needs.
International intended parents should compare each agency’s experience with remote communication, fertility clinic coordination, travel planning, hospital preparation, birth documentation, insurance, escrow, and referrals to independent reproductive attorneys.
EDSI supports international intended parents throughout the United States surrogacy process. International families should also obtain independent legal advice concerning citizenship, passports, immigration, and recognition of parentage in their home country.
LGBTQIA+ intended parents should look for experience with inclusive matching, egg donor coordination when needed, independent reproductive attorneys, parentage planning, and communication that respects each family structure.
EDSI supports LGBTQIA+ intended parents pursuing surrogacy in California and throughout the United States.
Intended parents should ask what services are included in the agency fee, what surrogate review occurs before presentation, who performs final medical clearance, who holds journey funds, how communication is managed, and what happens if a proposed match does not proceed.
They should also request a written explanation of estimated costs, refund terms, insurance coordination, legal coordination, and support provided during pregnancy and delivery.
Journey funds should be held separately from the surrogacy agency’s operating funds. California law generally requires a nonattorney surrogacy facilitator to direct client funds to an independent bonded escrow company or an attorney trust account.
EDSI uses an independent third party bonded escrow provider and does not hold intended parent journey funds.
Matching time depends on surrogate availability, intended parent preferences, medical requirements, location, embryo plans, and compatibility between the intended parents and surrogate.
Agencies should explain their current availability and review process, but intended parents should be cautious about guaranteed matching timelines.
A surrogacy agency may coordinate communication with reproductive attorneys, but the agency should not provide legal advice. The intended parents and surrogate should each have separate independent legal representation.
EDSI coordinates with independent reproductive attorneys but does not provide legal advice.
Continue Your California Surrogacy Research
Many intended parents compare agency structure, surrogate review, legal coordination, escrow safeguards, costs, and communication before choosing a California surrogacy agency.
Continue your research with these EDSI resources:
- Intended Parent Readiness Checklist
- California Surrogacy Law Guide
- Surrogacy Cost Guide
- Questions to Ask a Surrogacy Agency
CALL: 310-209-1898
EMAIL: edsi@eggdonorandsurrogacy.com
