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Adoption: Finding the Right Agency and Attorney
Filed under: Adoption, Expert Advice: Just For You
Selecting an agency and an attorney are among the first steps to adopting a child. Credit: Etolane, Flickr.
So you've made the decision: You want to adopt a child. Congratulations!
Now what? There's an interesting and winding road ahead of you -- from deciding whether you want to adopt domestically or internationally and whether you want to adopt an infant or an older child, to whether you want to start as a foster parent.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. According to the Child Welfare League of America, the majority of children adopted in America are found via an agency or private adoption with a lawyer helping the parents along the way.
First up, you need to choose an adoption agency or an attorney.
How to find the right agency:
Agencies generally hold open houses on a regular basis, so that's a good start. Drop in to see how you feel about the organization.
- Check with local adoption support groups in your area. Parents who have adopted, or who are in the process of adopting, can fill you in on an agency's reputation.
- Ask about the fee structure. Avoid an agency that won't give you up-front details on its fee structure and any contract that doesn't allow you to back out. Fees for making an application and a home study are common. According to the Joint Council on International Children's Services, costs for international adoption generally range from $12,000 to $30,000. The Child Welfare Information Gateway (CWIG) puts a wide range on domestic adoption costs, too -- anywhere from $5,000 to $40,000, depending on the state, the agency and the circumstances. Adopting children from foster care is a less expensive option -- as a matter of fact, many are free, according to Adopt Us Kids, with minimum agency costs that might be reimbursable.
- If you're planning on an international adoption, check the U.S. State Department's list of accredited agencies. These agencies have gained permission to facilitate adoptions from countries that follow strict guidelines to ensure that children are not trafficked illegally.
- For domestic adoption agencies, the CWIG offers a comprehensive list of agencies and support groups. The CWIG also lists the person in each state who can tell you if an agency is appropriately licensed.
- Check with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys to find a local attorney who specializes in adoption.
- Check in with local adoption support groups for references, and ask a potential attorney for references to other families whose adoption he or she has handled.
- Ask what types of adoption the attorney has handled in the past. Laws vary between domestic, infant, foster child and international adoptions, and it's best to have an attorney who is familiar with the particular avenue you are pursuing.
- Ask about the fee structure. Regardless of where you're adopting from, the CWIG estimates the cost for court document preparation can range from $500 to $2,000, and legal representation fees may range from $2,500 to $12,000 or more.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-17-2010 @ 9:31AM
Jeff Durham said...Parent dish should rewrite this article with the other side of the information for people. Find out what your own state child welfare agency provides for services regarding fostering and adoption. Chances are, you won't have any of these frightening fees and the agency will train you and walk you through the process – and subsidize your support. If you have the bucks, go ahead and contact a private agency. If all you want is to love a child, contact your state agency. There are lots of no-cost options right in your back yard.
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3-20-2010 @ 9:22AM
Chene said...I completely agree. My husband and I were foster parents to three great kids, two of whom we were able to adopt. There are zero to minimal fees and after the adoption, you are able to merely just provide for the kids instead of having to worry about paying off a loan. Also, you are providing a home for children who already exist and are in need of the most necessary thing in the life of a child, and that is love and stability. Our child welfare agency was an avenue we pursued that allowed us to finally make our dream come true of being parents and it gave our two kids a forever family. I have since recommended this to others looking for a way to build a family.
3-17-2010 @ 11:30AM
AdoptTruth said...It should be added that fees for adoption are all over the board because they are not regulated or standardized. These fees are determined by the individual adoption agency.
When the economy was sound and International Adoptions plentiful, most agencies were getting $30-38K for a healthy newborn. However this was before Hague and many bypassed the central authority in countries and dealt direct with poor birth mothers.
Today, because of the economy and stricter anti-human trafficking laws many agencies have rolled their prices back. Some even say "the country lowered the price" most in country prices for documentation and court fees amount to less than $200 USD. if you want a real eye opener check for free the 990 IRS Income tax return of these agencies. Many gross between $1 - 6 million a year.
www.guidestar.com
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3-20-2010 @ 9:52AM
Marcia P said...I adopted two children, at birth, from an attorney many years ago. It was a private adoption and the cost at that time was the cost of the OB-GYN doctor, the hospital, the delivery, and the attorney. Private adoption means records are locked and can never be opened unless requested by the child for medical reasons. My children are now grown men with their own families and never really were interested in finding their biological parents. However, the only drawback in private adoption is not being able to know what the medical background is of the biological parents. There are medical issues as one grows older and some of those issues could be in their genes.
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3-20-2010 @ 12:06PM
Darlene said..."the only drawback in private adoption" part is really an open debate. I find a lot wrong with closed/private adoptions. Maybe because I have two young daughters and you had sons, since there is somewhat of a difference within the emotional aspect. I adopted through the state (foster care) and kept contact with members in their birth family. While I am well aware that some children who were taken from their biological parents should (in some cases) be closed and private for safety issues, it can vary depending on the family itself. Having contact with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, and their birthmother has been the best choice we made for my family. They are like another set of in-laws. For anyone who wants to adopt, they should keep in mind that the reality of their situation is better than the kids pondering the "what-ifs" and conjuring up "perfect" life scenerios that could become consuming later down the line when they become teens.
3-20-2010 @ 12:48PM
Mindy said...FYI - Private adoption is not the same as closed adoption, at least in today's vernacular, Marcia. Your sons were adopted in closed adoptions, meaning records are sealed and no information is available to the adoptee.
Private adoptions, by definition, are adoptions handled between the birthparents and adoptive parents via an attorney, and can be open or closed. Private adoptions are not legal in all states - many states require the participation of a licensed agency rather than just an attorney.
Open adoptions are adoption in which some or all identifying information is shared between birth- and adoptive families. They run along a continuum from very limited info being available to the adoptee at adulthood, to regular communication and interaction between the two families. While research is still early, preliminary findings seem to be that open is much healthier, pyschologically and emotionally, for both the adoptee and the birthparents.
I am an adoptive mom to two daughters, one a teen, one almost a teen, who have no information at all about their birthfamilies. They were adopted from orphanages and came with nothing in terms of identifying facts. They are wonderful, healthy, amazing girls who grieve what they don't know. Long ago, when I was a naive new mother, I was glad not to have to worry about birthfamilies. Now, as I have watched my girls growing up, I realize that the biggest gift I could give them would be information about their birthfamilies. I realize how important that is, and would gladly sacrifice my own comfort to give that to them.
3-20-2010 @ 11:37AM
Darlene said...There are so many in foster care that urgently need families. Adopt older kids.
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3-20-2010 @ 12:53PM
Boston Blackie said...While I agree with your statement, not all children in foster care are adoptable. Parentla rights have not been taken away just because they are in foster care.
I adopted an older child and I would say that there are problems with older children that you do not face with an infant. The main thing is their memories, good or bad, of their birth parents and at times the child does not relly want to call others mom and dad. In our case, there was a divorce, he was in foster care for a couple of years, bounced all over the place, before the father got custody and then the new wife did not want the child. By that time, the mom was no place to be found and so the father gave up his parental rights and my son went into foster care. He was 6 when we adopted him and it took years for him to recover from being as he told me when he was 16 being thrown away in favor of the new wife and their child. He is now 30 and our relationship is hard at best, he still does not believe that we love and do care for him and are interested. So while there are older children that aare adoptable be aware of problems that can cause all heartbreak and pain.
3-20-2010 @ 12:51PM
Lori said...I would highly recommend adopting an older child through foster care. I adopted my daughter through Children's Home Society of Virginia (CHSVA) in 2007, she was 10 years old! They have a partnership with local social services agencies for foster care adoptions. The cost is almost nothing, it was very minimal. I paid for 2 books for classes and $60.00 for fingerprints (part of the background check)! It has been the best experience of my life!!!!!!! I would HIGHLY recommend them! It has been wonderful they have many programs available too-check them out www.chsva.org.
There are so many kids already here in the foster care system that need homes. There are many myths and misconceptions about adoption through foster care. What the truth is...is that they need parents, a family, a good home and to be loved. They were born into chaos and asked for none of it...YOU can make a difference. The stats and societal problem of kids aging out of the system and never find a forever family is alarming. They stats are 1 in 4 will end up in jail within 2 years of aging out (18 years old), they are the fastest growing homeless population and many will never graduate… we can fix this problem. There are close to 6,000 kids in the VA foster care system alone now with about 1,500 kids available for adoption right this minute. YOU can make a difference.
My daughter has thrived in the almost 3 years she has been with me. She has straights A's now (her birth family never sent her to school) and has not missed a day. She has won awards and contests-she in my eyes is brilliant of course! She is a great kid…and without the opportunity to thrive and be loved who knows where she’d be! The first adoption went so well I am adopting again through the same agency. I cannot say enough about CHSVA! Make a difference...adopt an older child! Give them a call, attend their orientation…see if it would work for you….
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3-29-2010 @ 4:18PM
Meghan at CWLA said...Thanks for the Child Welfare League of America link, and the discussion! This year, CWLA is celebrating 90 years of leadership, and together with hundreds of member agencies we're making children and families a national priority. We'd love to help you learn more about adoption, foster care, children's mental health, and a host of topics.
Please join the Child Welfare League of America on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@CWLAUpdates). Thanks again!
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