Family Tree Surrogacy Center, LLC is a for-profit, full-service surrogacy and egg donation agency based in California. It was founded in 2014 by Melinda Guy, who according to the agency is a former surrogate with a background in business management and legal assistance. Carlos Johnson serves as president and joined the organization in 2014. The team is small, with a handful of named staff members and client-facing coordinators.
The agency works with intended parents in the United States and abroad. Its website says it serves LGBTQ+, HIV-positive, single and married intended parents, and that staff work in English, Spanish and Catalan, and Mandarin and Cantonese; it also markets to prospective parents overseas through channels such as WeChat. In addition to its main California location, the agency says it has an office presence in Sacramento, and Phoenix, Arizona also appears among its locations.
As a full-service program, Family Tree matches intended parents with screened gestational surrogates and egg donors and coordinates the journey alongside fertility clinics, family-law attorneys and psychologists, according to its website. Surrogates are expected to be U.S. citizens or legal residents and to have had at least one prior pregnancy; the agency's full eligibility criteria, compensation ranges and published fee information appear further down this page.
Several surrogates who have worked with the agency describe ongoing contact with named coordinators throughout their journeys, and some describe returning for a second match with the same team.
AI summary of 41 reviews · can make mistakes
Reviewers, most of them surrogates, overwhelmingly describe a warm, family-like agency with staff who are responsive and explain each step clearly. Many say they felt supported from screening through postpartum, and several mention returning for additional journeys. A small number of reviewers were unhappy, raising concerns about consistency of support and handling of costs.
41 reviews match these filters.
As intended parent, I chose this agency hoping for guidance and stability during one of the most important journeys of our lives. Unfortunately, my experience was the opposite. The agency suffered from constant staff turnover, with my coordinators repeatedly leaving throughout the process. Each time this happened, we had to start over with someone new who was unfamiliar with our case, resulting in poor communication, lack of continuity, and unnecessary stress. Even more concerning was the matching process. The surrogates I was matched with withdrew partway through the journey, forcing me to restart the process multiple times. While I understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise in surrogacy, I expected the agency to provide better screening, support, and case management to minimize disruptions and guide us through these challenges. Surrogacy is already an emotional, expensive, and time-sensitive process. Instead of feeling supported, I often felt like I was navigating the journey on our own. Based on our experience, I cannot recommend this agency to intended parents looking for reliable coordination and consistent support.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)I'm grateful to FTSC for being an awesome agency, making my first experience a great one!! 🙏 and to Jessica Adams for her dedication to making it such a smooth and easygoing journey 🙌 Thank you so much for the work that you do. ☺️ It truly was a fulfilling, unique experience! 😌💙
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Family Tree Surrogacy is a truly exceptional agency with very experienced, passionated and professional staff. They helped us walk through every step along the journey, and finally we got two lovely baby boys. Our dream could not come true without their dedication, guidance and coordination. Thank FTSC so much for helping us grow our family!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)All I can say is thank God that Center like Family Tree Surrogacy exist! Thanks to place like this now we have our biggest miracle in our arms. Special thank you for Jessica Adams for being so kind, supportive and so professional... it's not always easy as it might take some time but she is always there for you even if you only need to talk.” I would highly recommend Family Tree Surrogacy Center. My experience was outstanding!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Google reviews are shown as written and link to the original. Reviewer type is inferred from what each reviewer wrote.
Base compensation
Up to $80,000
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 youFamily Tree Surrogacy Center accepts gestational surrogates between 21 and 38 years old.
Family Tree Surrogacy Center requires surrogates to have a BMI of 32 or lower.
Yes. Family Tree Surrogacy Center requires surrogates to have had at least 1 prior pregnancy.
Family Tree Surrogacy Center accepts surrogates who have had no more than 3 C-sections.
No. Family Tree Surrogacy Center requires surrogates to be non-smokers.
Family Tree Surrogacy Center's citizenship or residency requirement for surrogates: US citizen or legal resident.
