Brownstone Surrogacy is a full-service surrogacy agency based in New York City. It was founded in 2021 as a for-profit limited liability company and operates with a small team from its single New York location. On its website the agency describes itself as a full-service, New York City-based agency dedicated to providing professional, ethical, and personal support to surrogates and parents.
The agency is co-directed by Jarret Zafran, an attorney who is a gay father through surrogacy, and Yesenia Lemus, a former surrogate who serves as Director of Surrogate Services. Their own paths to surrogacy are part of how the agency presents itself, and the practice is organized as a boutique operation in which the two principals stay directly involved in journeys.
Brownstone works with intended parents in the United States and internationally, including LGBTQ+ and single intended parents. Surrogates it matches are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents; residency, health and pregnancy-history criteria appear in the eligibility table below, along with the agency's published fee and surrogate compensation figures.
As a full-service program, the agency handles matching and case management and coordinates the professional pieces of a journey around it. The agency says it uses an independent escrow service and independent legal counsel for both the intended parents and the surrogate, so that each side is separately advised. It is listed in the Men Having Babies "Surrogacy Advisor" provider directory as Brownstone Surrogacy LLC.
Across reviews on Yelp and in surrogacy directories, several intended parents and surrogates describe close, personal communication with the agency's two directors throughout their journeys.
AI summary of 23 reviews · can make mistakes
Reviews from both intended parents and surrogates are overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers often describing a small, personal agency where they felt cared for rather than treated as a number. Many mention fast, clear communication and value that the agency's leaders have been through surrogacy themselves. A small minority were less satisfied, describing the experience as more transactional than they expected.
23 reviews match these filters.
I unfortunately had a negative experience with Brownstone Surrogacy and ultimately decided they were not the right agency for me. I completed a surrogacy journey last year with a different agency, so I came into this process with something to compare my experience to. One of my biggest concerns was how medical expenses were handled. After an abnormal Pap smear, I needed a biopsy as a follow-up. Brownstone informed me that the costs associated with the biopsy were my responsibility. During my previous surrogacy journey, my agency covered the costs associated with required medical clearance, including a biopsy, so this was disappointing and unexpected. Beyond the financial issue, the overall experience felt very transactional to me and lacked the personal support I had experienced with my previous agency. I was also extremely uncomfortable with how one of my declined matches was handled. After I decided not to move forward with a potential match, I received a call with the director, Yesenia, and the owner. During that conversation, Yesenia directly asked me, in front of the owner, whether I was declining the intended parents because they were a same-sex couple. I found the question and the way it was presented incredibly uncomfortable. My decision to decline a match was about whether I personally felt it was the right fit, and I did not appreciate feeling as though I needed to defend that decision or having a motive attributed to me. Surrogacy is an incredibly personal journey, and as a surrogate, I want to feel supported, respected, and comfortable saying that a match does not feel right without being pressured or questioned in that way. Every surrogate may have a different experience, but based on mine, I ultimately chose to leave Brownstone and return to the agency I used for my first journey, where I felt much more personally supported and comfortable throughout the process.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)We welcomed our son this past April, and the road there wouldn't have looked anything like it did without Jarret, Yesenia, and the rest of the Brownstone team. We talked to other agencies first and came away uneasy. There were too much vagueness and not enough straight answers. Talking to Jarret was a relief. He's a former lawyer who's been through surrogacy himself, and it shows. He is warm, but he doesn't sugarcoat. He laid out the legal, medical, and emotional side of it clearly enough that a genuinely overwhelming process started to feel like something we could handle. He answered every question we had, and we had a lot of them. He returned every call. He checked in during the slow stretches and pushed hard for us when things got complicated. At no point did we feel like one file in a stack. Then there's Yesenia. Every conversation with her left us steadier than we'd been walking in. She has a real gift for making everyone feel like people rather than parties to a contract, including both intended parents and surrogates. As we got close to the birth, that steadiness was everything. The comfort that came from knowing she was making sure the surrogate was feeling good was such a relief, and it was so important in this process. Here's what convinced us it was real. Every other professional we dealt with, including the egg donation agencies and the clinics, would, unprompted, tell us Jarret was their favorite person to work with. The personal attention isn't a tagline here. It's how they operate. If you're weighing surrogacy agencies, this is the one. From beginning to matching to delivery day, they'll be with you for all of it. Our son is here because of them, and we won't forget it. Thank you, Jarret, Yesenia, and everyone at Brownstone.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)We had such a positive experience working with this surrogacy agency. From the start, they really knew the process inside and out, and that knowledge made a huge difference for us. Surrogacy can feel overwhelming, but they explained every step clearly and helped us understand all the details. What stood out to us most was how transparent they were. They were very open about timelines and wait times, and we always felt informed about where things stood. Whenever we had questions (and we had a lot!), they gave thoughtful, honest suggestions instead of just generic answers, which we really appreciated. Another thing that really stood out is that everyone on their team has some kind of personal connection to surrogacy. Many of them have been involved in the process themselves in one way or another, and you can truly feel that passion when you work with them. It’s clear that this isn’t just a job for them—they genuinely care about helping families through this journey. They also matched us with an amazing GC and helped facilitate the initial conversations, which made that first step feel comfortable and natural for everyone involved. Throughout the journey, they kept track of important milestones and dates and would gently remind us if something needed attention. They were also incredibly responsive—emails were usually answered the same day, and texts often got a reply almost right away. More than anything, we felt like they were truly there for us the whole way. It felt like they were holding our hands through a complicated process, and we always felt we could trust them. We’re very grateful for their support and would absolutely recommend them to anyone starting their surrogacy journey.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Jarret and Yesenia have truly built the best surrogacy agency with the highest standards, and their passion and dedication shine through in everything they do. As a “boutique” agency, Brownstone Surrogacy is small enough to carefully curate the perfect matches between gestational carriers and intended parents, and it shows in every aspect of their work. I was matched with the most grateful parents in November 2024 and delivered their perfect baby girl in November 2025! From the very first meeting with Brownstone, I felt valued, heard, and respected. They were always available to answer questions quickly and had clear communication. Throughout my journey, they also sent thoughtful gifts at each milestone (and sometimes just because!) which added an extra layer of feeling special and celebrated. The entire team is knowledgeable, patient, and compassionate - making a complex and overwhelming process feel seamless and manageable. I have to specifically highlight Yesenia's extraordinary support during a difficult time. Just a couple of weeks after our embryo transfer in February 2025, my father unexpectedly passed away and I had to travel out of state without notice. She was able to reschedule my heartbeat confirmation appointment (a highly anticipated visit that we were all looking forward to!) and move my blood draw appointment so we could stay on the fertility clinic's timeline. She also arranged for all of my fertility medications to be overnighted when I realized I'd run out before returning home. As someone who works in the medical field, I understand how much time and effort she had to put in to make all of this happen, but there was zero hesitation on her part. She calmly reassured me everything was under control and taken care of, minimizing my stress when I needed it most. She also showed genuine concern for how I was doing as a person - not just a surrogate - after losing one of the most important people in my life. That level of care is truly invaluable and the reason I'll be returning to Brownstone for another journey! I'm so grateful to have worked with such a professional and caring team. They truly care for their surrogates and intended parents, and it shows in every interaction. If you're considering surrogacy in any capacity, I highly recommend Brownstone Surrogacy - they will give you a beautiful experience you'll treasure forever!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Google reviews are shown as written and link to the original. Forum, Yelp and Trustpilot entries are our short summaries of what was posted, linked to the source. Reviewer type is inferred from what each reviewer wrote.
Base compensation
$70,000 – $85,000
Published by the agency. Benefits and allowances are usually on top of this.
Requirements change — confirm with the agency before applying.
See which agencies fit youBrownstone Surrogacy accepts gestational surrogates up to age 42.
Brownstone Surrogacy requires surrogates to have a BMI of 32 or lower.
Yes. Brownstone Surrogacy requires surrogates to have had at least 1 prior pregnancy.
No. Brownstone Surrogacy requires surrogates to be non-smokers.
Brownstone Surrogacy's citizenship or residency requirement for surrogates: U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Yes. Brownstone Surrogacy does not accept surrogates who live in: Nebraska, Louisiana, Michigan.
