A Surrogacy Agency Licensed by the New York State Department of Health
New York is the only U.S. state that licenses surrogacy agencies. Ivy Surrogacy, Inc. holds license GSP250701, issued July 2025 — and you can verify it yourself on the official state registry.
Licensed since July 2025
What the License Requires of Us
Under New York's Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA), a licensed agency must meet standards that protect every party in a surrogacy journey:
Independent Escrow
All surrogate compensation must be held by an independent escrow agent — never in the agency's own account.
Surrogates' Bill of Rights
Surrogates are guaranteed independent legal counsel, health insurance, and the right to make their own medical decisions.
Independent Lawyers for Both Sides
Intended parents and surrogates must each have their own attorney — no shared representation.
Don't Take Our Word for It — Verify It
Every licensed agency appears on the New York State Department of Health public registry. Checking takes under a minute:
- 1Open the official NYSDOH list of licensed surrogacy programs.
- 2Find "Ivy Surrogacy, Inc." in the list.
- 3Match the license number: GSP250701.
The registry is maintained by the State of New York, not by us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a national license for surrogacy agencies in the U.S.?
No. There is no federal or nationwide license for surrogacy agencies. Anyone can open an agency without passing any government review. New York is the only state that requires surrogacy agencies to be licensed — which is why the NY DOH license is the only official credential you can independently verify.
Why does New York license surrogacy agencies?
New York legalized compensated gestational surrogacy in 2021 through the Child-Parent Security Act (CPSA), becoming the only state with an agency-licensing regime — paired with a statutory Surrogates' Bill of Rights, mandatory independent escrow, and independent legal counsel for both sides.
Does the NY license matter if my journey happens in California?
Yes. The license is required for matching New York surrogates, but the standards it imposes — independent escrow, independent counsel, surrogate protections — apply to how a licensed agency is structured and audited. Choosing a licensed agency means choosing one that has passed a state health department's review, wherever your journey takes place.
How do I verify any agency's claims about being licensed?
Ask for the license number and check it on the New York State Department of Health public registry of licensed surrogacy programs. If an agency claims to be "licensed" or "certified" but cannot point you to a government registry entry, that claim is marketing, not a credential.
Is it legal to work with an unlicensed agency?
Outside New York, yes — because no license exists in other states. In New York, an agency must be licensed to match surrogates who reside there. Legality aside, the practical question is oversight: a licensed agency answers to a state regulator; an unlicensed one answers only to itself.
Talk to a Licensed Agency
Book a free 30-minute consultation and bring every hard question you have — including about our license.