Our Clinic Lost Our Legal Agreements: Why You Should Keep Your Own Copies
Written by Sydney Brickey, founder of WeFertility
Last updated: October 12, 2026
Keep your own copy of every document, especially legal agreements, because clinics lose things. Ours lost our known donor agreement and our sperm and embryo storage agreement.
Here's what happened, what to keep, and the easiest way to keep it.
What happened to us
We got mountains of paperwork. Consent forms. Counseling requirements. Insurance letters. Bills. Steps that had to happen in a certain order before we could move on.
The follow-up emails were cryptic. Gina was calling and emailing the clinic constantly just to figure out what was next. It felt like a moving target.
Then our clinic lost two of the most important documents we had: our known donor agreement and our agreement for sperm and embryo storage.
Not a lab result. Legal agreements.
That's when we learned: nobody cares about your paperwork as much as you do.
Which documents should you keep copies of?
All of them. Start with the ones you can't afford to lose:
| Document | Why keep your own copy |
|---|---|
| Known donor agreement | It protects you and your donor. Ours got lost. |
| Sperm and embryo storage agreement | Ours got lost too. |
| Consent forms | You'll sign a lot, often in a certain order. Know what you signed and when. |
| Counseling confirmations | Our clinic required counseling before we could move forward. |
| Test results and bloodwork | New doctors and specialists will want your history. |
| Genetic testing results | You'll want them for decisions down the road. |
| Insurance letters and statements | Proof of what's covered and what isn't. |
| Bills and receipts | For reimbursements and tax time. |
How do you get copies from your clinic?
Ask. Every time.
- Ask for a copy before you leave any appointment where you sign something.
- Download what you can from your patient portal right away. Don't wait.
- Request your records in writing if something's missing.
- Save insurance letters and statements the day they arrive.
Then add it to the appointment it came from. Here's how.
How does WeFertility keep your documents organized?
Every document belongs to a moment in your journey. WeFertility keeps it there.
Schedule the appointment in WeFertility. When you're done, mark it complete and add the document right to that visit. Signed a consent form? It lives with the appointment where you signed it.
Got a bill from that visit? The workflow walks you through paying it or getting reimbursed. You don't have to stop and think about what's next. You just follow the steps.
No scanner needed. For anything legal, upload the actual file when you can. For everyday stuff like bills and receipts, snap a picture with your phone.
Need to send it somewhere? Share, email, or text the document right from WeFertility. When the clinic asks for your donor agreement again, it's a few taps.
Nothing shows up on its own, and that's the point: it's your copy, not the clinic's.
You also control who sees what. Your partner can see everything. Your known donor doesn't need to see your bills.
Checklist: protect your paperwork
- Upload your known donor agreement as a file
- Upload your sperm and embryo storage agreement as a file
- Upload every signed consent form
- Download test results from your patient portal
- Snap a picture of every bill and receipt
- Save insurance letters and statements as they arrive
- Schedule every appointment in WeFertility and add documents to the visit they came from
- Decide who can see which documents
This is our experience, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your clinic, attorney, or tax professional.
How WeFertility helps
WeFertility remembers, so you don't have to. Your agreements, your bills, and every step, ready when someone asks for them. Try it free for 30 days, then it's less than a coffee a month. Download WeFertility on the App Store.
Keeping track of bills too? Read the IVF bills nobody warns you about or how to split the tasks with your partner.