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The decision to adopt is a big one, and for those new to the process, it can definitely be more than a little overwhelming. There are so many different types of adoption, various costs associated with it, and research to be done. But first, it’s important to make a decision about which path to take: Should you adopt through an agency or use a private attorney?
Both methods of adoption are very different, and there are pros and cons that come with each. Before you make your final choice, here’s everything you need to know about the difference between these two types of adoption so you can find which one might be right for you.
What to know before you adopt a child through an adoption agency
For those hoping for an expert to do most of the adoption legwork for them, using an adoption agency might be the right choice. According to Adoption.org, agencies provide services including matching parents with a child, supporting birth parents, conducting the home study, preparing paperwork, and performing post-placement visits, usually for the first six months following a successful adoption. They also usually provide their own in-house attorneys for the legal paperwork, and can facilitate both domestic and international adoptions. A big plus: Having the support you need from professionals who make adoptions happen for a living, which can be helpful with such a daunting process.
There are some cons, though, and a big one is the price. Using an agency can be expensive, and varies depending on what kinds of fees each individual agency charges. The total cost of adoption through an agency is an estimated $39,966, which may end up being out of budget for some people. And as Adopting.com has pointed out, some agencies can go out of business while using them and it can also lead to a more time-consuming adoption.
What to know before you adopt a child through a private attorney
Some people may choose to go an alternate route and conduct their adoption with the help of an adoption attorney. This way, parents will have more control over the process, but it will take a bit more work. As American Adoptions has pointed out, adopting with a private attorney is most helpful for adoptive parents who know the birth parents and need professional help facilitating things, which can help the whole process go much more smoothly.
“There was no agency involvement, no years spent on a waiting list, no tens of thousands of dollars exchanging hands,” adoptive mom Leah Campbell wrote for Mom.com of her private attorney adoption in the past. “I hadn’t been looking to pursue this path. I was simply in the right place at the right time to have the option presented to me.”
This is also a great path to take for those who want to make a strong connection with their child’s birth parents, and while still expensive, it may end up being cheaper than using an agency overall; this method of adoption costs about $25,000-$38,000 after all is said and done, including home study fees, legal fees, birth parent expenses, travel, and advertising.
It’s not all easy, though. Adoption through a private attorney means hiring professionals to take care of the parts of the process that an agency normally would, like the home study. It also may take longer to find a match, and comes with more financial risk.
How to find the right adoption agency or attorney
Agency adoption
When looking for the right adoption agency, it’s good to start with a list like the National Foster Care & Adoption Directory Search, which is a database that can help you find licensed agencies that work in your area. When considering an agency, adoption coach Amy Twombly told Maven Clinic that it’s important to ask questions about how many placements they do in a year and how many waiting families they take at a time, because that can help indicate how long the adoption process might be.
“If they’re only doing 10 placements a year and they have 50 waiting families, odds are you’re going to be waiting for a long time, and it certainly doesn’t have to be that way,” Twombly said.
Adoption attorneys
Finding an adoption attorney is similar: There are national directories that can help you find the representation you’re looking for in your state. Here, it’s important to do your research and ask the right questions first before committing to an attorney; AdoptiveFamilies.com recommends finding one who does at least 10 adoptions per year and who dedicates at least 50% of their time to adoption cases.
The journey to adoption can definitely be overwhelming, but the destination is surely worth it. Figuring out which method works for you is half the battle, whether you decide it’s best to go private or to use an agency to help you along the way.
