Heart of Surrogacy, LLC

Surrogacy is a compassionate and powerful way to grow a family. At Heart of Surrogacy, LLC, we specialize in ethical gestational surrogacy in Florida, providing intended parents and gestational carriers with expert guidance, legal clarity, and emotional support. We want you to get started with confidence.

Founded by reproductive and adoption attorney Jeanne T. Tate, our agency follows the highest medical and ethical standards, including those set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Understanding Gestational vs. Traditional Surrogacy

There are two main types of surrogacy:

• Traditional Surrogacy: The surrogate uses her own egg and is biologically related to the baby. This approach is rarely recommended due to legal and emotional challenges.
• Gestational Surrogacy: The surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby. Embryos are created via IVF using the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material.

At Heart of Surrogacy, we only coordinate gestational surrogacy, the standard recommended by ASRM and the most legally secure path for intended parents.

Surrogate Screening: More Than Just the Basics

ASRM outlines core criteria for gestational carriers, including:

• Ages 21 to 45
• At least one full-term, uncomplicated pregnancy
• Comprehensive medical, psychological, and background screening
  

At Heart of Surrogacy, we go further. Our screening process also evaluates:

• Lifestyle factors
• Emotional readiness
• Support systems

This ensures that every match is both medically appropriate and emotionally aligned—for a stable, successful journey.
Thinking of applying? Visit [Become a Surrogate] to learn how.

Legal Protections for Surrogacy in Florida

Legal clarity is essential in any surrogacy journey. In Florida, supportive laws make it possible for intended parents to establish parental rights with confidence.

Heart of Surrogacy ensures:

• A written, enforceable surrogacy agreement
• Independent legal counsel for all parties
• State-specific compliance with Florida surrogacy laws

Our agency partners with attorneys who specialize in reproductive law, helping simplify the legal process for intended parents and gestational carriers.

Why Choose Heart of Surrogacy?

Choosing the right agency matters. At Heart of Surrogacy, we combine:

ASRM-aligned medical standards

• Decades of legal experience
• Thoughtful, one-on-one care for both surrogates and intended parents

Our Florida-based team is dedicated to making every journey respectful, safe, and successful.

Start Your Surrogacy Journey Today

Whether you’re dreaming of becoming a parent or interested in becoming a gestational carrier, we’re here to help you explore your options.

Contact Heart of Surrogacy, LLC today to schedule a confidential consultation.

Surrogacy agencies and professionals are unregulated and unlicensed, making it critical clients do their homework and ensure they are working with ethical and experienced entities.  

Heart of Surrogacy, LLC was founded by Board Certified Adoption attorney Jeanne T. Tate, who has the highest ethical rating possible as determined by the credentialed Martindale Hubbell organization. 

Heart of Surrogacy, LLC advocates for regulation and oversight! 

Read this poignant article about why the surrogacy industry is so poorly regulated and the problems caused by this regulatory failure.  https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/05/america-ivf-regulation-failures/678259/

 Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you on your surrogacy journey.

Building a family through surrogacy can be a very exciting but very emotional process at the same time. We had the opportunity to go over some questions with one of our intended parents to understand their surrogacy journey and to learn more from their perspective.

When you found out Autumn was going to be your gestational carrier, how did you feel?

We were elated, but hesitant at first, we thought, and still do that she is too good to be true. Autumn is our second surrogate, our first one was not comfortable carrying through COVID times and we were hesitant at first, scared she would come to the same conclusion. However, once we got to know Autumn, we quickly discovered she was meant for us, we were elated. She has been wonderful in these uncertain times, and we couldn’t imagine being on this journey with anyone else but her.

What has been the best part of the journey so far?

January 31, 2021, when Autumn and I did our first (two) pregnancy tests, followed by February 3rd, 2021 when we had our first confirmation with my husband of a heartbeat. That day is also significant because it’s the birthday of the person who saved my life when I went into cardiac arrest at the age of 8. The best part of the journey is knowing that the baby will be here in October or late September.

You’ve become friends with Autumn through this process. What would you say are her best characteristics? 

Autumn is selfless, often pointing out that she is the “oven” and it’s not her baby. She goes out of her way to make sure I know I’m the mom and respects the decisions we make for the baby. She has a big heart and is very respectful.

Tell us a little about the first doctor’s appointment you and your husband were able to attend. 

It was emotional and so special, as we had only been able to attend the prior appointments via Zoom, while with the IVF clinic. When we transferred to the OBGYN, the doctor had learned we had not been to an appointment yet and scheduled an ultrasound just so we could see our baby on the ultrasound for the first time during the appointment.

What does Autumn and her willingness to become your gestational carrier mean to you? 

There are no words, only a flood of emotions and gratitude. Due to my medical history (heart transplant at age 8, followed by lifetime antirejection medicines), I am not able to safely carry a baby without risk to my life and compromising the health of the baby who would be subject to the harsh medications I take to prevent organ rejection,

How has your relationship with Autumn developed through this process? 

We talk every week, sometimes more than once a week, and we’re always updating each other on the size of the baby, and the dos and don’ts for that week that come with a weekly email reminder… like the week we were as big as a Zesty Zucchini. We also talk about other things, her kids, their sports, and how excited we both are in this process.  Autumn is welcome in our lives for as long as she wants, it’s her choice. Something I wasn’t sure I wanted when we first began our journey 5 years ago.

From an Intended Parent viewpoint, what would you like other potential gestational surrogates to know? 

What you are providing is a selfless gift. You could be the person that changes the world for that family. Your willingness to help someone build their family is a testament to your big heart. What you are providing for them will change their world. 

Heart of Surrogacy, LLC can help you explore your options and get the answers you need. To make an appointment, call (813) 331-5601

Heart of Surrogacy, LLC

With online platforms growing, finding a gestational surrogate has never been easier. The internet has allowed intended parents to choose between group forums, like Facebook groups or surrogacy agencies, to start their families.

But which path is right for you?

Is one option safer than the other?

If you’ve been asking, “Where Should I Find My Gestational Carrier?” Heart of Surrogacy has answers. We explain the options and possible risks you might encounter when finding a gestational carrier through different online methods.

Four Main Places to Find a Surrogate

Whether in the research phase or sold on surrogacy, you should know there are different ways to find a surrogate. The four main ways to find a surrogate are:

1. Hiring through a surrogacy agency
2. Paying a freelance surrogate recruiter
3. Seeking an independent surrogate (e.g., matching groups, Facebook, etc.)
4. Asking your network of family and friends

The easiest way to find a surrogate or gestational carrier is through a surrogacy agency. There are many agencies to choose from online, all ranging in price. A somewhat less expensive option is paying a freelance surrogate recruiter. A freelance surrogate recruiter is not part of an agency, though they usually have agency experience.

You can also search for a surrogate independently through social media platforms like Facebook. Independent surrogacy will have a longer wait than other methods. Lastly, reaching out to family and friends and requesting their advice on where to find a good surrogate is yet another option. Your network will likely point you to one of the other three options.

Facebook Groups versus Surrogacy Agency

Surrogacy through online Facebook groups is becoming increasingly popular because of their eye-catching costs. But are Facebook groups safe, or is it still best to shop for surrogates through a reputable agency?

At first, finding a surrogate independently through a Facebook group may appear less expensive or more immediate; however, the opposite may be true. It’s easy to let excitement and determination blind you to the red flags that come with finding solutions on your own.

Some of the issues that may arise from shopping independently through Facebook groups for surrogates are:

• Risk of fraud and misrepresentation
• Ineligible prospective surrogates
• Longer wait times
• Problems with coordination and communication

Searching for a surrogate through Facebook groups has a higher chance of fraud and misrepresentation versus going through a well-known surrogate agency. It’s too simple for people to pose as something or someone they are not. But through a surrogacy agency, there is a safety net to protect intended parents from scams.

Surrogacy Agency Safeguards to Protect You

All surrogates must go through a process before they can become a surrogate. They must be physiologically and medically approved by a professional, and many possible surrogate mothers found on Facebook have yet to be screened. This extends the time frame an intended parent must wait before starting their surrogate journey.

With that said, if you can be patient and are okay with a more hands-on approach to communicating, finding a surrogate through Facebook groups is still an option. Extra steps will have to happen to ensure you are not part of a scam.

Going through a surrogacy agency may be the better option if you’d rather be cautious and reduce or remove the worry of fraud.

A surrogacy agency tends to be more costly, but all services are included and have a legal safety net. Many feel they are paying for the value of security and ease. Surrogacy agencies also have a faster turnaround because their surrogates have already undergone a screening process and background check. Since agencies involve more than one employee, they often have more resources, making the process for intended parents much more effortless.

Finding a Gestational Surrogate, that’s Right for You

Although there are a few ways to find a gestational carrier for surrogacy, some ways are better than others. Less expensive options may not be as safe as going through an agency specializing in surrogacy. At Heart of Surrogacy, LLC, we want to inform you of your options and support you on your path to becoming a parent. Contact Heart of Surrogacy by phone at 813-280-6500 or through email at [email protected]. 

Would you like to become a surrogate? Are you thinking of preparing for a surrogate pregnancy? You should know you can increase your chances of successful embryo implantation, pregnancy, and live birth just by following a pro-fertility diet. We can get you started by sharing the best foods to eat for fertility health.

Surrogacy has become an increasingly popular family formation option, from celebrities who adorn the news to the average American household.

However, there is nothing average about the costs of surrogacy, which can range upwards of $150,000 depending on medical costs, surrogate compensation, legal and agency fees. Most often insurance does not cover surrogate-related medical expenses, although there are more and more companies providing surrogacy benefits including Starbucks, Viacom, and Bank of America.

One possible sign of relief is a new federal bill called Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act, which will allow taxpayers to deduct assisted reproductive care, including surrogacy, as a medical expense on their tax return without having to demonstrate medical or physical infertility.

To read more about the bill, click here: https://schiff.house.gov/imo/media/doc/equal_access_to_reproductive_care_act.pdf 

A surrogate is a woman who has agreed to carry a child for an individual or couple, known as the intended parents. It can offer many advantages over other family-building methods.

The most common agreement is gestational surrogacy, where the intended parents are biologically related to the baby. Intended parents can either ask someone they know to serve as a surrogate or work with an agency.

For those thinking of surrogacy to conceive a child, this blog shares some unique advantages.

Serving as a surrogate to help someone else grow their family is a selfless act of love. You know the joy of being a parent, and you are helping another family experience it. While it may have been a simple decision for you, your children may not be so quick to understand.

Here are six tips to help explain your choice to be a surrogate

For over 6 years Mandi & Patrick dreamed of having a child of their own, but Mandi’s heart condition made it impossible for her to carry a child safely. They decided to look into surrogacy as an option and began the journey to find a surrogate who could carry the child of their dreams. With a global pandemic and a few other challenges along the way, Mandi & Patrick’s hope of becoming parents ultimately came true because of their amazing surrogate Autumn.

Hear their inspirational story on this episode of Moore to Love: An Adoption Podcast.

A Special Note: We want to send a HUGE Thank You to Mandi Shelley for sharing her surrogacy experience with us on the podcast.

Nicole Ward Moore is a Board Certified Adoption Attorney who manages and operates the Orlando office. Nicole has been practicing with the firm since opening the Orlando office in 2005. Nicole practices exclusively in the area of adoption law throughout the State of Florida and in conjunction with out-of-state placements. Nicole also represents adoptive parents in adoption finalizations and represents several adoption agencies in private adoption placements. She also handles domestic adoptions, DCF Interventions, relative adoptions, stepparent adoptions, adult adoptions, and recertifications of foreign adoptions.

*This podcast is hosted by Jeanne T. Tate, P.A., and is not intended to, nor does it, create the attorney/client privilege between our host, guest, or contributors, and any listener for any reason. Content from the podcast is not to be interpreted as legal advice. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are only those from which they came.