A surrogate background check may review identity, address history, criminal records, sex-offender registries, and other public records allowed by law and program policy. The goal is to identify information that could affect safety, trust, legal work, or the stability of the journey—not to look for a perfect life.
You should receive clear notice, be asked for permission when required, and have a way to correct a report that belongs to someone else or contains an error.
A record with the same name was not Alina’s record
Alina had moved twice and used a shortened version of her name at work. Her report returned a criminal case from another woman with a similar name and birth year.
She felt embarrassed even though the case was not hers. The coordinator gave her the screening company’s dispute process. Alina sent identification and address information. The company corrected the report before matching continued.
The lesson was not that checks are unreliable. It was that reports need a clear review and correction path.
What the program may ask for
- Full legal name and earlier names
- Date of birth and Social Security information through a secure process
- Current and previous addresses
- Government identification
- Consent for the screening company to run the report
- Similar information from an adult partner or household member when policy requires it
ASRM recommends assessment of the gestational carrier’s social and family environment as part of a responsible screening process.1 A background report is only one part of that review.
What to disclose before the report arrives
If you know about an arrest, charge, conviction, protective order, name mismatch, or unresolved court issue, tell the program accurately. Do not guess about whether it “counts.” Ask what documents are needed.
A record does not always produce the same decision. The program may consider what happened, when it happened, the outcome, whether it involved safety or dishonesty, and whether anything is still pending. Hiding a known issue can become a separate trust concern.
Before you sign the authorization
- Confirm the screening company and its privacy process.
- Ask which people in your household will be checked.
- Ask which types of records are reviewed.
- Find out who receives the report.
- Ask how long information is stored.
- Get the instructions for disputing inaccurate information.
When a third-party background report is used for certain eligibility decisions, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act may provide notice and dispute rights.2 Ask the screening company or an attorney how those rules apply to your situation.
Common questions, answered
Will a past misdemeanor disqualify me?
Not every record receives the same response. Program policy, current law, the facts, timing, outcome, and safety concerns can matter. Disclose it and ask for an individual review.
Will my partner be checked?
Many programs screen a spouse, partner, or adult household member. Ask early so no one is surprised by the authorization request.
What if the report is wrong?
Request the report or required notice, follow the screening company’s dispute instructions, and send documents that show the mismatch. Keep copies of every message.
Accuracy matters more than embarrassment
Alina’s application moved forward because she checked the report instead of accepting an error. Also review how a criminal record may affect eligibility and the wider screening process.