Taiwan Deports Surrogacy Promoters as Fraud Cases Mount Globally

Taiwan authorities expelled Chinese nationals, including at least one influencer, who were suspected of advertising and promoting surrogacy services, including for same-sex couples. The deportations were reported across multiple outlets including Taipei Times, Focus Taiwan, and Taiwan News. Surrogacy promotion appears to have been the central grounds for removal under Taiwan's laws.

Worth watching, especially for anyone considering international surrogacy arrangements involving intermediaries operating outside their home jurisdiction. Promoters crossing borders to recruit clients can be a sign of a legally precarious operation.

The Camas-Washougal Post-Record reported additional details on the indictment of the surrogacy agency's owner, her spouse, and a business manager on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The local coverage adds specificity to the charges first reported at the federal level.

If you worked with this agency, your attorney remains your first call. The conspiracy charge alongside wire fraud signals prosecutors are building a coordinated case, not just individual allegations.

OCCRP reported that a collapsed surrogacy agency lost a U.S. civil case after failing to show up in court. The default outcome came as a result of the agency's absence, rather than a full merits hearing.

This one is a useful reminder: a civil default judgment against a collapsed agency does not guarantee families recover funds. Winning on paper and collecting are two very different things.

A Winnipeg couple has filed a formal complaint over birth registration laws following legal hurdles they encountered after completing a surrogacy arrangement. CBC reported the case highlights ongoing friction between Canadian surrogacy practices and existing birth registration frameworks. The specific nature of the complaint and its current status were covered in the CBC report.

Canadian intended parents should verify birth registration requirements in their province before delivery, not after. The legal steps to establish parentage can differ significantly by jurisdiction.

A Danish study found that children born from frozen embryo transfers had higher cancer rates compared to those born from fresh transfers or natural conception, according to Medical Daily. Researchers emphasized that the absolute risk remained low. The findings are likely to prompt further research into the long-term health outcomes of different IVF protocols.

This one is worth sitting with, not as cause for alarm, but as a reason to ask your clinic how it monitors long-term outcomes for children born through frozen transfers. The science is still developing.

How to Vet a Surrogacy Agency Before You Sign

Choosing a surrogacy agency is one of the most consequential decisions you will make on this journey, and taking the time to vet a potential partner carefully can protect you, your surrogate, and the child you are hoping to welcome. A good starting point is confirming whether the agency holds membership in recognized professional organizations such as RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association or SEEDS (the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy). Membership in these organizations signals a commitment to ethical, established standards of practice.

From there, ask the agency directly for references from past clients — both intended parents and surrogates. Speaking with people who have already been through the process with that agency will give you an honest, ground-level picture of what your experience might look like. Pay close attention to how those clients describe communication and support during difficult moments, not just the smooth ones.

Escrow handling is another critical area to examine. Ask how client funds are held, who manages the escrow account, and whether it is overseen by an independent, licensed escrow company rather than managed in-house by the agency itself. Proper escrow separation protects everyone's money from potential mismanagement.

It is also worth asking about case manager turnover rates. High turnover can mean inconsistent support and the need to re-explain your situation repeatedly at vulnerable moments. Stability in your point of contact matters more than most people anticipate going in.

Finally, confirm that the agency ensures surrogates have access to their own independent legal counsel — attorneys who represent the surrogate's interests alone, not the agency's or yours. And before signing anything, request a clear, written financial disclosure outlining all fees, payment timelines, and any contingency costs so there are no surprises ahead.