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offering you: peace of mind

International Clients

If you are international and seeking surrogate escrow services, SeedTrust can provide you with all escrow transactions that are easily accessible online. We understand the need for confidentiality and discrete billing and take the extra steps to ensure our clients have every last document they need.

We have worked with clients from all over the world, including China, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, U.K., and the Ukraine. Our online portal gives you full access to your file, and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

Benefits and services

At SeedTrust, funds are insured by our industry-leading bond and insurance program. Our trust accounts are backed by a $100 million bond. Our comprehensive insurance coverage includes a $2 million general liability policy, a $1 million errors and omissions policy, and a $1 million Cyber Incident Protection policy. SeedTrust strives to reduce risk and protect our clients at all costs.

The SeedTrust online platform is transparent and allows for easy escrow management with AES-256 level encryption.

SeedTrust is an independent third-party with a fiduciary responsibility to protect your funds and ensure that funds are administered in accordance with the contract between you and your surrogate.

SeedTrust’s innovative online escrow fund management platform provides 24/7 access to your entire escrow file, including ledgers, documents and transaction history.

24-hour disbursement processing. Immediate transaction notifications and expedited fund distributions.

Easy-to-understand contract summary, direct deposit payments and real-time transaction notifications.

SeedTrust offers affordable, flat-fee with no transaction charges, no time-based charges no charge for rematching… No hidden fees. EVER.

Frequently Asked Questions

About SeedTrust

What makes SeedTrust an exemplary escrow provider?

SeedTrust stands out as an exemplary escrow provider due to its unmatched security, transparency, service and expertise. Key features include:

Security

Qualified and Experienced Team:

  • Founded and led by a CPA, an attorney, and led by a former bank executive.
  • A diverse team of over 50 professionals, including multiple attorneys, CPAs, and MBAs, with extensive experience in surrogacy and egg donation escrow.

Defined Structure, Processes and Systems:

  • Robust internal controls and processes with a 5-step approval process for payments.
  • Departmental teams with specialized system access and limited authorities based on roles and responsibilities, combined with timely audits by independent accounting teams to ensure robust checks and balances.
  • Robust Multi-Bank System and Fraud Protection: Utilizes multiple banks with advanced fraud protection services (positive pay, dual control, multi-factor approvals) and rigorous internal controls, ensuring uninterrupted service and safeguarding client funds against theft and errors.
  • Advanced Custom-Built Software: Employs industry-leading software systems with AES-256 encryption, ensuring information security, transparency, and real-time notifications for clients, while maintaining rigorous internal controls and processes to minimize errors and protect funds.

Independent and Specialized:

  • Operates as an unbiased third party with no ownership or control over other service providers in the process.
  • Focuses solely on the fiduciary responsibility of managing escrow and protecting all parties involved.
  • Experienced to guide clients through any escrow issue or complexity. 

Bonded and Insured:

  • Maintains a $100 million bond, $2 million general liability policy, $1 million errors and omissions policy, and $1 million Cyber Incident Protection policy.
  • First in the industry to introduce and operate with a large bond, ensuring comprehensive risk coverage.

Oversight:

  • CPA and Attorney Oversight: Multiple licensed CPAs and attorneys with  fiduciary responsibility who must maintain compliance with their respective state licensing authorities.
  • Detailed annual underwriting and requirements by our eight bonding providers backing SeedTrust with a $100 million bond.
  • Regular internal and external audits and checks conducted by CPAs.
  • Real-time transparency and notifications through custom-built escrow software providing for client and agency oversight.

Service and Experience:

SeedTrust offers a large, caring, purpose-driven team of experts available to guide clients throughout their journey. The team is multilingual, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin.

SeedTrust takes on the responsibility and liability to ensure funds are managed in accordance with the contract. The team provides fast and timely approvals and payments, with scheduled payments for key benchmarks such as base compensation. 

SeedTrust maintains the best and most user-friendly custom software, offering full transparency and ease of use. 

SeedTrust charges one flat fee with a generous refund policy, making them a great partner throughout the journey.

SeedTrust was established to set a new higher standard in the surrogacy and egg donation industry by offering more secure, efficient, and transparent escrow services. With over nine years of experience and serving over 20,000 families without issues, SeedTrust has become a market leader. We prioritize qualified leadership, defined processes, independent operations, bonding, insurance, and regular audits to ensure the highest standards of security and reliability.

Surrogates and Intended Parents have become accustomed to the complicated, antiquated and frustrating process of the industry’s current escrow experience. From the lack of communication to only receiving documentation after multiple requests to inconsistent payment schedules, both Intended Parents and Surrogates waste valuable time and even money.

Using SeedTrust for your escrow needs introduces you to a new way of managing your funds. It gives you 24/7 access to all of your documentation through your own unique client portal (you can even download the app to your phone or tablet), customized alerts before payments are sent out and when anything has been updated in your portal, and a new and easy scheduling process that we ensure all parties agree upon before we distribute the first payment. Additionally all documentation in your client portal is in real-time; when a benchmark payment or reimbursement is made it is automatically reflected in your ledger which you can access at anytime.

SeedTrust welcomes ALL clients and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

SeedTrust boasts a robust team of professionals led by our founders—a CPA, an attorney, and a former bank executive. Our team includes over 50 experts, such as multiple attorneys, CPAs, and MBAs, all dedicated to securely serving our clients. This diverse group of professionals ensures that every aspect of our operations is managed with the highest level of expertise.

With extensive experience in all critical business and legal aspects of running an escrow company, our skilled team has successfully managed over 20,000 cases. This track record establishes SeedTrust as the world’s leading expert in surrogacy and egg donation escrow management, providing our clients with unparalleled security, service, guidance and peace of mind.

We protect all of the parties. In some States, it is illegal for agencies to hold escrow for their intended parents. It poses a conflict of interest since you have matched the intended parent(s) with a surrogate. If you are holding escrow for the intended parent and they feel they don’t wish to pay the surrogate, she is naturally put in an unfair position. The same conflict of interest is true for an attorney holding the escrow. There is no neutral party acting in both parties’ best interests.

Managing escrow is a much better option for all of the parties versus holding it. Our client service, legal and accounting teams review every surrogacy contract associated with each individual case and create a payment calendar that coincides with the language pertaining to payment disbursements in the contract. Once pregnancy is confirmed, all of the relevant parties have access to the calendar and now exactly when the disbursements will be paid to the surrogate. This simplifies the process and minimizes all of the questions around when/how the surrogate should expect to be paid. We are separate and neutral party and the contract is critical while managing escrow. A contract is not necessary to hold and merely disburse escrow.

We take on all of the liability. We accept all of your liability when we manage your escrow cases. That is one less burden that you have to shoulder throughout the surrogacy journeys you manage. If a mistake is made, we accept responsibility. In most cases, we simply absorb the cost of the mistake because we’d rather maintain the highest level of client satisfaction.

Every case is handled consistently and we’ll save your team valuable time. Our goal is to offer you and your clients the same level of care and expertise throughout every journey. Your case managers won’t have to toggle back and forth between different escrow processes. Your intended parents and surrogates will have full, online transparency allowing them to review ledger statements, disbursement data and the associated documentation so they won’t have to call and email you to inquire about those details. If they have questions, our team is available to answer their questions.

Your intended parents’ escrow funds are fully ensured. That’s huge! In every case of escrow theft or misappropriation, the owners of the company were to blame. Our insurance bond even protects intended parents if any SeedTrust owner/employee steals the money. That is a clause that was extremely hard to have underwritten. Full background checks have been completed on every employee and the bond covers in any/all theft related losses.

  • Funds are backed by our program.
  • We protect all of the parties.
  • Every case is has a dedicated and experienced escrow team.
  • Enlisting the services of a fund manager vs. a fund holding company benefits all parties.

Learn more at https://www.seedtrustescrow.com/the-benefits-of-working-with-seedtrust-escrow/

 

Yes! SeedTrust accepts independent surrogacy escrow management cases. Contact us today to learn more about intended parent surrogacy escrow management services.

It’s really easy! Ask your surrogacy and/or egg donor agency to email your match sheet to [email protected]. Once we set up your case, your dedicated SeedTrust Escrow team will be in touch. We will work with you to make sure that you understand how to utilize your dashboard to see all of the activity and documentation pertaining to your escrow funds.

Yes. We work with many international intended parents! Our online platform translates into seven (7) foreign languages. We have relationships with overseas banks that allow international intended parents to fund their escrow accounts. We also partner with foreign currency exchanges to lock in exchange rates and help minimize exchange fees.

It’s really easy. Email us at [email protected] and send us the match sheet. We can work off of your match sheet as long as it includes the contact information for the intended parent(s), surrogate and/or egg donor, and your agency contacts. You will be assigned a dedicated team that consists of a client service member, paralegal, and accountant. Roland Salloum, SeedTrust’s COO, manages all of the members on the operations team. He’s reviewed thousands of contracts and is passionate about making sure that you and your clients have the very best escrow experience throughout their journey.

Yes. We work with a great many international intended parents. Our online platform translates into seven foreign languages. We have relationships with banks overseas to allow international intended parents to fund escrow. We also partner with foreign currency exchanges that will lock in exchange rates to help minimize their exchange fees.

No. Our purpose is to make the escrow process easy for everyone involved. While the majority of our agency partners elect to have us manage all of their cases, we don’t have a policy that mandates that we do so. We will manage as many or as few cases as you choose to refer us.

General Information

Why is selecting an escrow provider important for intended parents, surrogates, and donors?

Selecting an escrow provider is crucial because the provider is highly involved throughout the surrogacy or egg donation journey. An escrow company is a critical partner in ensuring that funds are managed securely and efficiently. A qualified provider protects all parties from financial risks and ensures the smooth and accurate handling of payments and related transactions. The escrow provider also serves as an intermediary in explaining financial matters allowing the client to focus on more meaningful conversations about the baby.

Selecting a secure escrow provider is crucial because, as an impartial third party with a fiduciary responsibility, it protects all parties by ensuring funds are available for contractual payments accurately and timely, eliminating the risk of fund loss and errors, and reducing financial stress by providing impartial guidance to intended parents, surrogates, and donors. At SeedTrust, our priority is to ensure our clients can focus on growing their families without worrying about financial uncertainties.

Escrow means that you’re using a “third party” to hold something of value, which helps to make your transaction safer. The job of an escrow service is simply to ensure that everybody sticks to what is outlined in the contract. Ideally, this would be a neutral third party, as they would have both parties best interests in mind.

Using a third party escrow agency like SeedTrust can eliminate the sometimes-uncomfortable conversations about money and payments that arise between the Intended Parents and Surrogate. By partnering with SmartVault, a secure and easy to access file management system, we have developed a unique process that eliminates the frustrating task of emailing accounting documents back and forth and allows you to spend more time on things that matter.

SeedTrust is owned and operated by an experienced Attorney and CPA. To date we have worked with Intended Parents, Surrogates, Egg Donors and Agencies in over a dozen countries.

Managing escrow for a surrogacy journey is particularly complex, involving over 100 time-sensitive payments to various providers over a multi-year process. Each submitted request must be checked against the  journey-specific underlying Gestational Surrogacy Agreement (GSA) and/or agency agreements, along with provided supporting documents. The escrow company must review these agreements and understand the documentation necessary to determine if the payment should be approved per the agreements or if further documentation or approvals are required. Some calculations and documentation, such as lost wages, are complex. The escrow company is also responsible for reviewing the contract and scheduling non-contingent payments like base compensation and insurance. To do this correctly, they must fully understand the contract. 

The escrow provider plays a key role in working with all parties throughout the journey to explain the financial provisions when misunderstandings or disagreements arise. The escrow company also needs to navigate disputes fairly to protect all parties. There are many potential issues that can arise throughout a journey, and the escrow manager must be able to manage the complexity and provide guidance no matter the issue. All of this requires specific qualifications and industry-specific expertise to execute well.

Managing an escrow company or any financial institution requires specific expertise and qualifications in business, accounting, banking, and law. This expertise ensures the company is properly run with the necessary structure, systems, insurance, and oversight to keep clients’ funds secure and manage the complex process of surrogacy and egg donation escrow.

The escrow manager has a fiduciary responsibility to manage the funds between the parties in strict compliance with the underlying contracts, ensuring payments are authorized according to the contracts or by obtaining approval from appropriate parties. Ensure that your escrow provider takes on this responsibility in the escrow agreement.

We will not close the account until all parties certify that all monies have been paid and that nothing more is due to be paid or reimbursed.  Once we have written confirmation from all parties, we prepare and refund the account funds via check or ACH/Wire Transfer.

Your client portal will remain active for 90 days after your account has been closed allowing you to access and download all documentation. Should you need to access your documentation after 90 days, you can do so by contacting our office, as SeedTrust maintains files for three years after the contract has ended.

If you determine that SeedTrust is the right fit for you, please contact us at [email protected] or call 1-888-223-9818 and we will walk you through the next steps. For further information about the SeedTrust process please click here.

The owners and team of an escrow company must be highly qualified and experienced in financial services management. Due to the complexity of surrogacy and egg donation escrow, a diverse team of professionals with exceptional qualifications and licenses in business, finance, accounting, banking, and law is essential. At a minimum, the company should have a full-time CPA and a licensed attorney with experience in surrogacy and egg donation escrow to provide oversight.

Managing these cases involves handling numerous time-sensitive payments and detailed contractual obligations. Therefore, having a highly qualified and experienced team is essential. This ensures meticulous review and appropriate approval of payments, accurate management of funds, implementation of robust internal controls to prevent fraud and errors, and effective dispute resolution. Ultimately, this approach secures client funds and safeguards the interests of all parties involved throughout the entire journey.

When selecting an escrow provider, clients should at a minimum ensure the following key elements are in place to ensure security of funds and the ability for the provider to execute:

  • Qualified and experienced leadership and staff
  • Defined structure, processes, systems
  • Independent and specialized operations
  • Bonded and insured services
  • Regular audits to uphold security and reliability standards

An escrow fund management company, often called an “escrow provider” is a third party entity that maintains and manages how and when funds are disbursed to the parties who are contractually involved throughout a surrogacy and/or an egg donor journey. The escrow provider is responsible for holding the intended parent’s money in a secure account and ensuring that the funds are distributed in accordance with the provisions of the parties’ gestational surrogacy and/or egg donor agreement.

Funding

Do we pay for your services?

The majority of the agencies with which we partner do not pay our service fees. Most elect to have the intended parents pay our low, one-time fees. In those cases, the intended parents sign the service agreement with us and not the agency.

SeedTrust charges a low, one-time fee for escrow fund management. Surrogacy fund management is a $1,850 flat fee ($2,000 for independent intended parents). Egg donor cases are $400. There are no additional annual fees and we don’t charge wire transfer fees or check-cutting fees. Need to rematch? There’s no extra charge for that either. With SeedTrust, there are no hidden fees. EVER.

SeedTrust stands out as an exemplary escrow provider due to its unmatched security, transparency, service and expertise. Key features include:

Security

Qualified and Experienced Team:

  • Founded and led by a CPA, an attorney, and led by a former bank executive.
  • A diverse team of over 50 professionals, including multiple attorneys, CPAs, and MBAs, with extensive experience in surrogacy and egg donation escrow.

Defined Structure, Processes and Systems:

  • Robust internal controls and processes with a 5-step approval process for payments.
  • Departmental teams with specialized system access and limited authorities based on roles and responsibilities, combined with timely audits by independent accounting teams to ensure robust checks and balances.
  • Robust Multi-Bank System and Fraud Protection: Utilizes multiple banks with advanced fraud protection services (positive pay, dual control, multi-factor approvals) and rigorous internal controls, ensuring uninterrupted service and safeguarding client funds against theft and errors.
  • Advanced Custom-Built Software: Employs industry-leading software systems with AES-256 encryption, ensuring information security, transparency, and real-time notifications for clients, while maintaining rigorous internal controls and processes to minimize errors and protect funds.

Independent and Specialized:

  • Operates as an unbiased third party with no ownership or control over other service providers in the process.
  • Focuses solely on the fiduciary responsibility of managing escrow and protecting all parties involved.
  • Experienced to guide clients through any escrow issue or complexity. 

Bonded and Insured:

  • Maintains a $100 million bond, $2 million general liability policy, $1 million errors and omissions policy, and $1 million Cyber Incident Protection policy.
  • First in the industry to introduce and operate with a large bond, ensuring comprehensive risk coverage.

Oversight:

  • CPA and Attorney Oversight: Multiple licensed CPAs and attorneys with  fiduciary responsibility who must maintain compliance with their respective state licensing authorities.
  • Detailed annual underwriting and requirements by our eight bonding providers backing SeedTrust with a $100 million bond.
  • Regular internal and external audits and checks conducted by CPAs.
  • Real-time transparency and notifications through custom-built escrow software providing for client and agency oversight.

Service and Experience:

SeedTrust offers a large, caring, purpose-driven team of experts available to guide clients throughout their journey. The team is multilingual, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin.

SeedTrust takes on the responsibility and liability to ensure funds are managed in accordance with the contract. The team provides fast and timely approvals and payments, with scheduled payments for key benchmarks such as base compensation. 

SeedTrust maintains the best and most user-friendly custom software, offering full transparency and ease of use. 

SeedTrust charges one flat fee with a generous refund policy, making them a great partner throughout the journey.

Because at SeedTrust, we believe in transparency and open lines of communication, we establish a benchmark payment schedule that is created and stored in the client portal; this schedule can be accessed at any time.

We believe establishing and displaying a payment schedule is the best first step, as it allows for any adjustments to be made and eliminates the guesswork. For instance, if your contract noted that your payment was to be disbursed on the 28th of every month and your particular banking institution has a required 4-day hold on incoming deposits, you would not receive your payment until after the first of the month. If agreed upon by all parties, we could easily modify the schedule and payment transfer date before the engagement began.

Once we establish a schedule that benefits all parties, the schedule document is created and stored in the client portal; this schedule can be accessed at any time. Payments are dispersed by direct deposit.

Payments for Reimbursements 

Download the reimbursement form from your SeedTrust client portal, complete the form, and upload the completed form and receipts and/or documentation to the portal.

Once all of the documentation has been uploaded to the portal, it will be reviewed, and payment will be promptly made. When the payment has been made, all parties will receive a notification from the portal that the ledger has been updated.

The documentation and forms will remain in the portal should either the IP or Surrogate need access to them.

Security and Transparency

What transparency measures should an escrow company implement?

An escrow company should provide real-time access to account details, including ledgers and transactions, for all parties involved. System transparency and real-time notifications allow intended parents, surrogates, donors, and agencies to promptly identify and address any potential issues.

Our software provides real-time access to all case details and tracking for all transactions, notifying clients immediately via email of any meaningful changes and payments.This transparency reduces the risk of errors and ensures that any unauthorized payment is quickly flagged. In addition, our independent accounting system audits the core escrow operations system against accounting records and bank statements, adding an extra layer of security.  All of our bonding and insurance information is located within our portal so our clients have up to date access to our policies.

The SeedTrust team includes CPAs and attorneys with fiduciary responsibilities, ensuring meticulous oversight. Internal and external accounting teams, led by CPAs, regularly review accounts. SeedTrust’s secure system provides 100% transparency and real-time notifications, facilitating continuous oversight and clear channels for issue reporting. Due to our substantial bond size, we undergo detailed annual underwriting and audits. This comprehensive review adds an extra layer of oversight, and our insurance providers back SeedTrust with an industry-leading $100 million bond.

Internal and external audits and checks by CPAs are a crucial element of oversight within a system of checks and balances. The accounting teams should be separate from operational and payment teams and lack banking approval authority to ensure independence. Audits should be conducted in a separate accounting system with independent books and reconciliations.This audit process acts as a check to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the escrow accounts.

Internal practices include regular reconciliation of escrow accounts by separate accounting teams, maintaining independent sets of books, and conducting regular bank reconciliations. These practices help identify and resolve discrepancies promptly.

CPAs provide financial expertise and knowledge of internal controls. Their knowledge can help design robust internal control systems and processes. They are also governed by state boards, which can discipline them if they violate any public accountancy rules.

A licensed attorney provides legal oversight and fiduciary responsibility. An escrow company in our industry should have a licensed attorney as an owner or full-time employee. If issues arise, parties can file complaints with the state agency, which can investigate and discipline the attorney for any wrongdoing. Disciplinary actions can include additional education, reprimand, suspension, or disbarment, particularly for misappropriation or theft of client funds.

An escrow provider must have oversight and regular audits from multiple sources.Oversight from licensed individuals such as CPAs and attorneys is essential to ensure the security and integrity of the escrow process. Without such oversight and the potential for license loss in case of issues, the risk of working with an escrow company is too high.

SeedTrust mitigates risks through independent operations, stringent protocols with industry-leading standards and bonding. This approach ensures that funds are handled securely and transparently, providing a trustworthy and reliable service for intended parents, surrogates, and donors.

SeedTrust uses a robust multi-bank system with close integrations and the highest level of fraud protection, including positive pay, dual control, and multi-factor approvals. We maintain escrow accounts with multiple banks to ensure uninterrupted service in case of a disruption with one bank or account. This setup minimizes the risk of fraud and ensures continuous operations for our clients.

Client funds are held in attorney and CPA managed trust accounts. The client escrow accounts managed by SeedTrust are strictly for client funds and are never combined with other funds or the company’s operating cash. Our services and banking integration allow for the movement of escrow funds exclusively through our designated systems and procedures, ensuring secure movement through a 5-step approval process that cannot be bypassed. At the bank level, separate teammates must upload and submit the file for approval, which requires custom permissions to move money. Our custom banking setup and integrations provide essential protection and security.

At SeedTrust, we ensure the security of our clients’ funds with a rigorous structure and robust internal controls. Our 5-step approval process involves specialized escrow managers, attorneys, an MBA-credentialed payment team, and a CPA-led accounting team. This thorough system of checks and balances makes it extremely difficult for any single person or group of people to misappropriate funds while reducing mistakes. It would take collusion by four-five different people, including owners, from separate teams to steal any escrow money, which would be caught by our audit team within days. This process applies to all employees and owners regarding any movement of escrow funds without exception.

A proper structure with appropriate checks and balances is essential. All requests and payments should be reviewed, approved, and audited by separate individuals who report to different managers. Multi-user controls and approvals must be in place for any money to be released from the client’s escrow account. It should always take a minimum of 3-4 people to approve and move money from an escrow account to ensure that no single bad actor can transfer funds improperly. In addition, timely auditing by a separate accounting team ensures that potential theft or errors are caught quickly and handled appropriately.

Similar to any financial institution, an escrow company must implement secure operational structures, systems, and processes to prevent theft and errors. Without proper internal checks and balances, the risk of mistakes or theft becomes too high. Ensuring these structures are in place is critical for the company’s security and the integrity of its services.

The infrastructure behind our escrow software prioritizes information security. Our online platform utilizes AES-256 encryption and follows the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines. This ensures that your valuable data and information are handled with the utmost care.

SeedTrust maintains industry-leading software systems and rigorous processes at every step.

 For example, if an error is detected by the payment review team, they cannot change it directly; it must be returned to the approving team for review and adjustment.

Every action by the SeedTrust team occurs within our system without exception, ensuring compliance with our strict protocols and full oversight and transparency. Our custom-built escrow software minimizes errors, increases transparency, and ensures that the proper process is followed without exception.

The purpose of an escrow company is to act as an independent third-party neutral, paying out claims or reimbursements according to the written terms of the agreements between the parties. An escrow company should avoid conflicts of interest and not be involved in creating or managing the match. The company and its owners should not have any greater allegiance to any party involved, nor should they have ownership or managerial control over any other providers paid throughout the process. The escrow company’s job is to manage funds in strict compliance with the underlying contracts, which is particularly complex in surrogacy and egg donation agreements.

Conflicts of interest arise if the escrow manager is also an attorney for one of the parties, as they owe loyalty to their client and must follow their client’s instructions, even if it contradicts the written agreement. An independent escrow company can neutrally manage disputes, coordinating with both parties’ attorneys to find a resolution.

One of the core responsibilities of an escrow company is to review receipts and confirm payments by checking documentation against the contract. The risk of bias is too high if the escrow company is managing payments for themselves or others they hire, such as in agency-managed escrows. These arrangements lack proper checks and balances and can lead to conflicts of interest.

Bonding and Insurance

What is a bond, and why is it essential for an escrow company?

The most important insurance policy an escrow company can hold is often called a bond. A bond is a crime, employee dishonesty, or theft insurance policy that protects clients’ funds in the event of loss due to theft or misappropriation. This type of policy can be called an employee dishonesty policy, crime policy, bond, or fidelity bond. In this context, the terminology is interchangeable. In the event of theft or misappropriation of funds, this policy will pay out to return the money.

Bonding requires underwriting due to the risk for insurance companies. These policies can also be hard to obtain, especially if the escrow company does not have the right qualifications, team, structure, and systems in place. Additionally, the policies are very expensive, and escrow companies must be financially secure and willing to pay for them to protect their clients. It is crucial that an escrow company acquires and maintains a sizable bond

The next critical policy is the errors and omissions (E&O) policy, which all escrow companies should maintain. This policy protects the company and its clients from mistakes that are not theft but human error. We believe an escrow company should maintain a $1 million policy, as it would cover mistakes on more than 10 cases at one time, which is unlikely to occur. Surrogacy and egg donation escrows are complex, involving many payments, and an E&O policy should be in place to protect all parties in the event of a mistake.

Bonding and insurance are critical components that provide a safety net to protect the company, its clients, and its funds in the event of theft, errors, omissions causing loss, or a cyber-attack.

Cyber Incident Protection insurance is crucial as it protects the company from damages caused by cyber-attacks. This insurance includes a response team to help manage and reduce damages during an attack. A minimum of a $1 million policy is recommended for adequate coverage.

The underwriting and requirements set by bonding or insurance companies issuing a bond or theft policy provide crucial due diligence and risk assessment for escrow companies. These requirements, especially for coverage above $10 million, include detailed evaluations of the company’s expertise, ownership, team, financials, structure, systems, processes, and banking. This annual review ensures risk levels remain acceptable, as the insurance company is responsible for covering losses up to the policy amount. Therefore, working with an escrow provider without a bond of more than $10 million is not advisable.

At SeedTrust, all funds are insured by our industry-leading bond and insurance program. Our trust accounts are backed by a $100 million bond. Our comprehensive insurance coverage includes a $2 million general liability policy, a $1 million errors and omissions policy, and a $1 million Cyber Incident Protection policy. SeedTrust strives to reduce risk and protect our clients at all costs.

Given that the requirements and underwriting ramp up significantly at $10 million in coverage, we believe this should be the minimum policy an escrow company holds. They should not be trusted to hold funds if they cannot afford or qualify for a $10 million bond, or roughly 10 times what any one case could hold. Given that theft or misappropriation of funds is the most common issue with less secure providers, this should be a strict requirement.

Bonding requires underwriting and strict requirements due to the risk for insurance companies. Insurance companies specialize in evaluating the risk of theft and must back the company with their shareholders’ money if they issue the bond. Therefore, these policies can be hard to obtain, especially if the escrow company does not have the right qualifications, team, structure, and systems in place. Additionally, the policies are very expensive, and escrow companies must be financially secure and willing to pay for them to protect their clients.

Independent and Specialized

How does SeedTrust ensure impartiality and expertise in escrow management?

SeedTrust is an independent third-party escrow company with no ties to any agency, law firm, or clinic. SeedTrust solely focuses on managing escrow and protecting all parties involved, ensuring funds are handled in strict compliance with the agreements. This independence allows the team to confidently and objectively manage cases and guide parties through conflicts, involving attorneys if necessary. This impartiality and expertise position SeedTrust to recommend the best course of action for all parties.

New York recently passed a surrogacy statute prohibiting agency-managed and attorney-held escrow where the attorney represents one of the parties due to significant conflicts of interest. These types of arrangements should be avoided to ensure unbiased fund management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of working with SeedTrust Escrow versus holding it on your own or suggesting that the intended parent(s)' attorney do so?

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We protect all of the parties. In some States, it is illegal for agencies to hold escrow for their intended parents. It poses a conflict of interest since you have matched the intended parent(s) with a surrogate. If you are holding escrow for the intended parent and they feel they don’t wish to pay the surrogate, she is naturally put in an unfair position. The same conflict of interest is true for an attorney holding the escrow. There is no neutral party acting in both parties’ best interests. Managing escrow is a much better option for all of the parties versus holding it. Our client service, legal and accounting teams review every surrogacy contract associated with each individual case and create a payment calendar that coincides with the language pertaining to payment disbursements in the contract. Once pregnancy is confirmed, all of the relevant parties have access to the calendar and now exactly when the disbursements will be paid to the surrogate. This simplifies the process and minimizes all of the questions around when/how the surrogate should expect to be paid. We are separate and neutral party and the contract is critical while managing escrow. A contract is not necessary to hold and merely disburse escrow. We take on all of the liability. We accept all of your liability when we manage your escrow cases. That is one less burden that you have to shoulder throughout the surrogacy journeys you manage. If a mistake is made, we accept responsibility. In most cases, we simply absorb the cost of the mistake because we’d rather maintain the highest level of client satisfaction. Every case is handled consistently and we’ll save your team valuable time. Our goal is to offer you and your clients the same level of care and expertise throughout every journey. Your case managers won’t have to toggle back and forth between different escrow processes. Your intended parents and surrogates will have full, online transparency allowing them to review ledger statements, disbursement data and the associated documentation so they won’t have to call and email you to inquire about those details. If they have questions, our team is available to answer their questions. Your intended parents’ escrow funds are fully ensured. That’s huge! In every case of escrow theft or misappropriation, the owners of the company were to blame. Our insurance bond even protects intended parents if any SeedTrust owner/employee steals the money. That is a clause that was extremely hard to have underwritten. Full background checks have been completed on every employee and the bond covers in any/all theft related losses.

Can you manage cases for Intended Parents outside of the United States?

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Yes. We work with many international intended parents! Our online platform translates into seven (7) foreign languages. We have relationships with overseas banks that allow international intended parents to fund their escrow accounts. We also partner with foreign currency exchanges to lock in exchange rates and help minimize exchange fees.

What are the benefits of working with SeedTrust Escrow versus having your attorney or agency hold or manage your third-party fertility funds?

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● Funds are backed by insurance and bonding. ● We are a neutral entity to all parties. ● Every case has a dedicated and experienced escrow team. ● Enlisting the services of a fund manager vs. a fund holding company benefits all parties.

I’m not using a surrogacy agency. Does SeedTrust manage surrogacy escrow cases for independent intended parents?

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Yes! SeedTrust manages escrow accounts for independent journeys. Contact us today to learn more about surrogacy escrow management services.

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Colby Priest

Escrow Account Specialist

Colby joined our team in 2024, bringing his wealth of knowledge in healthcare and real estate. Living in the sunshine state with his wife and son and their two dogs, Colby and his family enjoy traveling, boating and enjoying all Florida has to offer.

Hunter McMillin

ESCROW CONTRACT COORDINATOR

A graduate of the University of California, Riverside, Hunter has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and joins SeedTrust with a year of escrow account management experience. Born and raised in Southern California,

Hunter enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and cheering on his favorite LA sports teams, the Dodgers and the Lakers.

Outside of work, Hunter loves to hangout with his girlfriend and spend time with their cat. An athlete nearly his entire life, he likes to play pick-up basketball and watch sports with his friends. Hunter is passionate about forming relationships with others and helping them achieve their goals, and hopes his social skills and willingness to assist clients takes SeedTrust to new heights.

Dadby Gallahad

Escrow Account Specialist

Dadby Gallahad is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has been a paralegal for the past 7 years in which she helped the Spanish-speaking community with their personal injury cases. Now, as a paralegal for SeedTrust,  Dadby

continues to enjoy helping Spanish-speaking Intended Parents and Surrogates. Dadby enjoys going to the movies and taking nature walks in her spare time with her husband.

Angel Forrest

Surrogate Advocate

Angel Forrest, Surrogate Escrow Guide, joined SeedTrust with over 15 years of experience in Human Resources, Customer Service, and Business Administration. As a mother herself, Angel is passionate about having a family and the joy of being a parent. 

Angel is dedicated to supporting surrogates and ensuring all clients have the best possible experience and stress-free journeys.

When not in the office, Angel enjoys outdoor activities with her family and friends. She especially enjoys going to the beach and boating.

Ron Snyder

Escrow Support Specialist

Ron was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, where a passion for communication and broadcasting first took root. During college, Ron showcased a flair for media and communication by hosting a radio show for four years, and also writing video 

game reviews for an entertainment website. After graduating from Temple University with a degree in Communication, he embarked on a diverse professional journey that spans billing, the mortgage industry, and collections.

Outside of professional endeavors, Ron enjoys a vibrant personal life filled with hobbies and family time. An avid bowler and ice hockey player, he also treasures spending quality time with his wife Trisha, and two boys Dominic and Declan.

Katelyn Barker

Escrow Support Specialist

Based in DeLand, FL, Katelyn Barker focuses on streamlining processes, ensuring accuracy, and supporting clients with a detail-oriented approach. Her commitment to excellence makes her an invaluable asset to the SeedTrust team.

Outside of work, Katelyn enjoys a vibrant life with her family, including her husband, their toddler, and a lively assortment of animals: nine ducks, seven chickens, two dogs, and even a pig! Whether she’s balancing books or enjoying time on her small homestead, Katelyn’s dedication and passion shine through.

Lina Wei

SR. Closing Specialist

Lina Wei, MBA, joined SeedTrust as an ART Paralegal with experience in the reproductive science and surrogacy field. Bilingual in Mandarin and English, Lina is passionate to help grow family while drawing on her experience in the education field to make every 

person’s experience with SeedTrust rewarding and pleasant. Outside of the office, Lina enjoys hiking through Mission Trails in San Diego and experiencing different cultures as well as life-styles around the world.

Samantha Jenkins

Specialty Teams and Training Manager

Samantha Jenkins is a graduate from Texas State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies as well as an Advanced Technical Paralegal Certificate from Austin Community

College. Samantha joins SeedTrust with a background of working in customer service, accounts payable, and the legal industry.

Samantha is passionate about helping others and making sure every client is satisfied.

Outside of the office, Samantha enjoys spending time with her dog Beasley and her family, playing softball, being on the river, and trying out new local restaurants.

Molly Shen

Disbursement Request Specialist

Molly Shen, joined SeedTrust with experience in various fields, including Reproductive Science and Surrogacy Industry, Science Education, and College Planning. She is bilingual in Chinese Mandarin and English. Molly is passionate about providing 

clients with high-quality surrogacy escrow services to help families grow and reduce the financial stress of the escrow process.

Outside of the office, you can find her hiking beautiful trails throughout the state of Indiana, gardening, food tasting, and spending time with her kids and family.

Nicole Davis

Disbursement Request Specialist

Nicole Davis has a strong foundation in banking and financial services. With a focus on both small and large-scale disbursements, she has honed her expertise in fraud prevention and detection,  ensuring the security and compliance of all financial 

transactions. Nicole’s comprehensive banking knowledge allows her to manage and navigate complex financial situations with precision.

Holding an Associate of Arts degree, Nicole blends her technical banking expertise with excellent communication skills, ensuring seamless interactions with clients and colleagues. Outside of her professional role, Nicole is passionate about welding and creating custom jewelry, combining her creativity and craftsmanship, In her personal time, she cherishes moments spent with her children, balancing a fulfilling career with a rich family life.

Celine Reilly

Disbursement Request Specialist

Celine Reilly is a versatile professional with a diverse background that spans higher education, real estate, and the travel industry. A proud graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, she brings a well-rounded skill set and a passion for 

helping others in all areas of her life. Outside of her professional pursuits, Celine has a deep love for horses, owning and riding them whenever she can. She is also the proud owner of a spirited Jack Russell Terrier.

When not tending to her animals, Celine enjoys kayaking the crystal-clear springs of Florida with her husband, embracing the outdoors, and experiencing the beauty of nature. She’s an avid RV camper, always seeking new adventures and making memories on the road. With a genuine passion for people, Celine is dedicated to making a positive impact in everything she does, whether it’s in her career or in her personal pursuits.

Dominic Dalton

Disbursement Request Specialist

Dominic brings a robust background in lending, legal, and sales, and is known for his skill in contract review and negotiation. A strong supporter of AI innovation, especially Chat GPT, he is fascinated by the evolving

potential of technology. An animal lover at heart, Dominic shares a special bond with his beloved dog, Coffee, and a fondness for birds such as the African Grey Parrott. An avid reader, writer, and culinary enthusiast with a passion for exploring new recipes and flavors. A dedicated gamer, he appreciates the artistry behind immersive storytelling and interactive experiences.

Jessica Matthews

Disbursement Request Specialist

Located in sunny Florida, Jessica possesses a strong background in efficiency, attention to detail and exceptional organizational abilities. Having navigated her own fertility journey, this personal experience offers her a distinctive viewpoint 

shaped by strength, empathy, and compassion. She cherishes her family and her role as a mother.

Jessica enjoys the company of her pets, attending live music events, cheering for hockey games, and hiking in nature. During her spare time, she enjoys reading, caring for her organic vegetable garden, and appreciating the great outdoors.

Brittney Hemmends

Sr. Escrow Contract Coordinator

Brittney entered SeedTrust as a paralegal with a diverse background in the English field. After graduating with her degree from Texas State University, Brittney entered SeedTrust as a

paralegal with a diverse background in the English field. After graduating with her degree from Texas State University, she found herself immersed in the background of education, psychology, and eventually, law. It was through these years of self-discovery that led her to a career that now feels like home.

When she isn’t spending time at work, Brittney prefers to enjoy a life full of nature and art. She spends some days traveling to new places, hiking to new heights, and learning through creative outlets. Mostly, she lives an exciting, colorful life with her cat Yuno, whose wild but peaceful presence matches her own

Tamara Burtscher

Escrow Contract Coordinator

Tamara excels in contract review and ensures timely scheduling of payments. With a background in psychology from her study abroad experience, Tamara brings a detail-oriented and customer-focused approach to her role. 

She is committed to assisting customers as much as possible, ensuring their needs are met with efficiency and care. Outside of work, Tamara has a passion for animals and enjoys traveling, which enriches her professional perspective and personal growth.

Jessica Pruitt​

Escrow Account Specialist

Jessica is a dedicated professional with a focus in Business from the University of South Carolina Upstate. With over a decade of experience in the business financial world and customer service, she proudly plays a vital role at SeedTrust,  

facilitating smooth and secure financial transactions for families and surrogates. A passionate advocate for surrogacy, Jessica is also a three-time experienced gestational surrogate. Her deep love for the surrogacy community inspired her to pursue a long-term career in this field, allowing her to help others fulfill their dreams of parenthood. Residing in the Upstate of South Carolina, Jessica enjoys life with her husband, two fun-loving children, and two rambunctious dogs, balancing her professional commitments with family adventures and a passion for travel.

Kayleen Stromberg

Independent Escrow Account Manager

Kayleen Stromberg is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Southern Oregon University who holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Human Communication, with a specialization in Conflict

Resolution, as well as an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies from ABA accredited Pioneer Pacific College. Kayleen joined the SeedTrust team with experience in various fields of the legal industry, including personal injury, general business and taxation, trademark, real property, and estate planning. During her time at SeedTrust, she has assisted thousands of clients throughout their journeys. As a mother herself, it brings her an immense amount of joy to help intended parents realize their dream of parenthood, and provide support to the incredible surrogates and egg/ sperm/ embryo donors who make it all possible. Kayleen is zealous in her desire to provide outstanding support and customer service to each individual she works with throughout their journey, all the while cultivating meaningful relationships.

In Kayleen’s free time, you can find her hiking beautiful trails throughout the state of Oregon, wine tasting in the Umpqua and Willamette Valleys, or cheering on the Oregon Ducks, all with her husband, daughter and dog in tow.

Jordan Marak

Escrow Operations Manager

Jordan Marak is a graduate of Texas Lutheran University and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a Criminal Justice focus in addition to an Advanced Technical Paralegal Certificate from Austin Community College. Jordan joined the Seedtrust Team 

with Civil Law legal experience and many years of customer service. Jordan is committed to providing excellent customer service and ensuring each client’s journey is smooth sailing.

Outside of work, Jordan enjoys spending quality time with her family, friends, and her two golden retrievers. She also loves sports and traveling.

Nuala

Escrow Operations Manager

Nuala Deely is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal Studies and a minor in Political Science. With an extensive customer service background, Nuala joined the SeedTrust Team devoted to

providing each client with the best possible experience. Nuala is passionate about helping families grow and working to instill peace of mind in our clients throughout their journey.

Nuala loves spending time with her family. When she is not working, you can find her outdoors. She loves fishing off the coast of Texas, concerts, hiking, and paddling the Guadalupe River.

Cassi Doberstein

ESCROW ACCOUNT SPECIALIST

Cassi brings over a decade of hands-on experience in the surrogacy community, blending her personal journey as a four-time surrogate with a deep understanding of the legal and emotional complexities of the

process.  Her unique perspective allows her to approach each contract with care, precision, and empathy. Cassi is passionate about helping families grow and is dedicated to making the escrow process smooth, transparent, and stress-free.

Outside of work, Cassi is a proud wife and mom of 2. Her love for adventure led her family to live in a converted Skoolie, traveling through all 48 contiguous states and creating unforgettable memories along the way. Later, she followed her kids’ dream of island living and spent a year in Maui, fully embracing the slower, tropical pace of life. Cassi believes in living boldly, following dreams, and making the most of every moment.

Taylor Johnson

Escrow Account Lead

Taylor Johnson is a graduate from Texas State University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a major in Management. Taylor joined the SeedTrust team with experience in Escrow and Title.  As someone who

faced personal fertility struggles, she is deeply passionate about helping families grow and holds each journey close to her heart. Taylor is devoted to making every client feel comfortable, confident and cared for throughout their entire journey.

Taylor was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and still resides there with her husband and their two dogs. Outside of work, Taylor enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, live music, reading and travel.

Amy Rauth

Escrow Account Lead

Amy Rauth is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Amy joined the SeedTrust team with eight years of office administration experience in human services and healthcare. She utilizes her background to 

provide attention to detail and clear communication to ensure that clients have the best possible experience in every aspect of their journey.

In Amy’s free time, she enjoys adventuring the beautiful Oregon Coast, taking camping trips, and attending Oregon Ducks sporting events. 

Madi Barnet

ESCROW ACCOUNT SPECIALIST

Madeline (Madi) brings a wealth of experience and a unique legal perspective to the team. Before joining SeedTrust, Madi honed her skills as an international trademark paralegal, where she developed a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of complex legal 

processes. This background has been instrumental in ensuring accuracy and compliance in the disbursement process at SeedTrust. Madi is committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring that all disbursement requests are handled with the utmost care and precision.

Outside of work, Madi enjoys traveling, curling up with a good book, or taking long walks with her dog. She is thrilled to be part of the SeedTrust team, where she can leverage her legal expertise and passion for helping others to make a meaningful impact.

Claire Chang

Escrow Account Specialist

Claire Chang, Escrow Account Specialist, joined SeedTrust with over 8 years of experience in various fields of healthcare, including medical and legal translation, reproductive care, egg donation, and surrogacy.  Claire holds a BS degree in Life Science 

and is fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese. She is passionate about helping families grow and providing excellent communication to ensure satisfaction for all clients.

In her free time, Claire enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves to travel, both locally and abroad.

Gianna Robinson

Escrow Account Specialist

Gianna Robinson is a graduate from the University of Arizona holding a Bachelor’s degree in Pre-Law. She has extensive legal experience from her academics and in previous employment. Such experience varied from

working at a county courthouse to participating in a family law clinic. She applies her analytical and interpersonal skills into her current role as an ART paralegal. Gianna makes it a priority to ensure that clients feel comfortable and helps them understand the escrow process.

In her free time, Gianna frequently hits the gym and loves to stay active to promote body and mind positivity. She also volunteers as a Victim Advocate for the community of Tucson, Arizona. Her goal is to attend law school in the near future.

Zane Zantai

Escrow Account Lead

Zane Zentai is a graduate from the University of Arizona, with a degree in Law and Criminology. His previous work experience includes Mission Support for the Federal Government, as well as Service Experience Management. Zane hopes to utilize his meticulous 

attention to detail and excellent  customer service skills to better serve our clients and enhance their overall experience.

Outside of work, Zane enjoys learning how to play new instruments, finding new ways to make coffee, and traveling wherever possible. He plans to continue his law education going forward.

Grace Wofford

Escrow Account Lead

Grace, brings a wealth of legal experience spanning from criminal law to trusts and estates. Since relocating to Georgia in 2023 with her husband and loyal blue heeler, she’s been pursuing her academic passions at Savannah

Tech College, studying interdisciplinary and paralegal studies. With a firm belief that education is a lifelong journey transcending age, Grace advocates for the pursuit of knowledge at any stage of life. Beyond her professional & academic endeavors, she finds joy in capturing moments through photography, embarking on new adventures through travel, and indulging in the art of baking. Grace embodies a commitment to growth and exploration, both in her legal career and personal interests.

Lauren tessier

Escrow Account Lead

Lauren Tessier is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Criminology and Sociology and a minor in Political Science. In 2022, Lauren joined SeedTrust with Human Resources and Customer Service experience and is a

graduate of an ABA-certified Paralegal Studies certificate program in Raritan, New Jersey. Lauren takes tremendous pride in helping families grow and flourish however she can.

In her free time, Lauren can be found practicing her classically-trained art of Opera and learning new vocal techniques as a Mezzo Soprano. When she isn’t belting out melodies and prefers a night relaxing, she spends quality time with her husband by watching superhero movies and documentaries. Lauren also enjoys exploring areas outside of her home of Bucks County, PA.

Jessica Noda

Escrow Contract Coordinator

Jessica is a graduate of the Legal Studies Institute at Florida International University and holds a Paralegal Certificate. Jessica has over 15 years of legal experience both in litigation and pre-litigation. Jessica is also a Florida Notary Public and a 

Nationwide Remote Online Notary. Jessica was also a licensed insurance agent and worked independently for her Insurance Agency for about 5 years.

Jessica’s greatest and most honorable achievement is becoming a mother of 3. She has young Irish twin boys and a young princess!

You will find Jessica involved as a Team Mom for her son’s basketball team who have been playing since 2021. She keeps busy with practices and games which she LOVES!