The PLS Standard
The PLS Standard
Every agency says it is ethical. This page says what that means at PLS, in commitments specific enough to check. Our founder helped write the SEEDS standards the field uses; these go further because we are small enough to keep them.
Written by Nancy Block, RN
Founder and Director. Fertility nurse, 17 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Former President, SEEDS.
Last updated
The 12 commitments
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1. Your money is never ours.
Every dollar you fund sits with a licensed independent escrow agent. You may choose the agent. You receive statements directly from them, and you can request a balance at any time. PLS has no signing authority on your account. [CONFIRM mechanics]
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2. A physician reads every file.
Before a surrogate candidate is presented to you, Dr. Silverberg has read her complete prenatal and delivery records and written a medical summary for your clinic. No summary, no introduction.
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3. A nurse leads your journey.
Nancy Block, RN runs matching personally and is reachable by every family.
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4. Capped caseload.
We hold active journeys at [PLS_CASELOAD_CAP] so each case manager knows every family and every surrogate by name. When we are full, we say so and we wait-list rather than stretch.
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5. Independent professionals, on purpose.
We do not employ the psychologist who evaluates your surrogate, the attorney who drafts your contract, or the escrow agent who holds your money. Each works for you, not for us.
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6. Both sides get their own lawyer.
Every surrogate has independent counsel, paid for by the parents, as Illinois law requires. [CONFIRM statute reference with counsel]
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7. Published prices.
Our fee and every third-party cost are itemized on this site and in your agreement before you sign. The fee does not change mid-journey.
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8. Compensation stated in full.
Surrogates see the complete package, base and benefits, in writing before matching. We never advertise "up to" figures that depend on complications.
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9. Screening before matching, not after.
Application, interview, records review, background check, insurance review and psychological evaluation are complete before a candidate is presented.
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10. Honest timelines.
We define the match clock (signed agreement to accepted match) and publish our median every year.
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11. Results in the open.
Each year we publish journeys started, matches, transfers, clinical pregnancies, live births, preterm births and parent and surrogate satisfaction, with definitions.
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12. We finish what others abandon.
When an agency fails and a surrogate or family is left mid-journey, we take the case where we can, as we did for three surrogates in 2025 and 2026.
Aligned with: ASRM Committee Opinion on gestational carriers (2022); SEEDS standards; Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act and the Equality for Every Family Act (2025). [CONFIRM] See our results and how escrow works.
Frequently asked questions
Who enforces the Standard?
You can. Each commitment is specific enough to check: your escrow statements come from the escrow agent, not from us; Dr. Silverberg's summary goes to your clinic; our prices are in your agreement; and our results are published with definitions. Which commitments are also written into the agency agreement is set out in your contract. [CONFIRM contract language with counsel]
What happens if we fall short?
Tell Nancy directly. A commitment you can check is one you can hold us to, and we would rather hear it from you than read it in a review. [CONFIRM the written complaint and remedy process with Nancy]
How is this different from an accreditation?
In most states surrogacy agencies are not licensed, so there is no accreditation to point to. The Standard is a public list of commitments aligned with ASRM guidance and the SEEDS standards our founder helped write. It does not replace a license: New York licenses agencies, and PLS is applying. [CONFIRM status and date]
Can I see a sample escrow statement?
Ask for one at your consultation. [CONFIRM a redacted sample statement is available]