Find an Adoption Agency or Adoption Lawyer

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International Adoption

Whether you have already decided to adopt internationally or are first exploring the possibility, the Web can give you an overview of the international adoption process and U.S. international adoption requirements. Online, you'll be able to research countries that have established international adoption programs, learn about the associated costs and how to select a reputable adoption agency, learn about potential issues facing children who have spent time in orphanages, find support groups in your area, and find current adoption-related news and publications.

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International Adoption Process

To complete an international adoption, United States citizens must fulfill the requirements of the ... read more »

International Adoption Programs and Requirements

You may not have an initial preference as to the country from which to adopt, and that's OK. Some ... read more »

Adoption Home Study

All countries require the completion of an adoption home study before you adopt. The home study is ... read more »

International Adoption Costs

International adoption costs can range from about $10,000 to $30,000. Remember, these are only ... read more »

Find an Adoption Agency or Adoption Lawyer

You can handle adoption on your own or through an adoption agency or adoption lawyer. The decision is up to you and should be based on your needs. Some people choose an adoption agency based on reputation or by fees. Some people want to work with an agency near where they live and others choose to work with an agency in another part of the country.

Dulcinea's Insight

Many national adoption organizations have member agencies that meet their standards and requirements. Use the Web to locate agencies associated with groups that work on behalf of adopted children.

Research several agencies. Attend their information sessions. Find out the number of children placed and size of the agency. Ask for references.

Contact your State Licensing Board to make sure the agency's license is current. Check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Go online to do this quickly and efficiently.

Check upfront and clarify agency fees, the refund policy, and what services will be provided.

Find out what services the agency provides pre- and post-adoption.

Dulcinea's Picks

Adoptive Families Magazine has a list of questions to help you choose an adoption agency. These questions concern placement, timing, costs, the international programs, and more.

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The Joint Council on International Children's Services has a list of member agencies you can browse through alphabetically or by category. Click on "Listing Alphabetically" to find the agencies identified with addresses, phone numbers, e-mail, Web sites, and names of the directors.

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Adoption.com lists adoption agencies, attorneys, and other adoption specialists by state. Simply click on your state to get a list of agencies with a brief description, list of services, and links to their Web sites.

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The National Council for Adoption (NCFA) lists its member agencies so that you can contact one nearby to get your adoption process underway. You can download the NCFA directory to read through the agency options or you can search NCFA's online database by entering your city or state for immediate results.

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The Child Welfare Information Gateway lists agencies from several private organizations in its National Adoption Directory. The site also offers steps to assess the reputations of private, licensed adoption agencies with links to the necessary resources and contacts you might need while making these assessments.

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The American Academy of Adoption Agencies includes a list of attorneys who specialize in adoption law. Look under the Membership Directory link to find an attorney by state. The "Retaining an Attorney" section lists reasons to hire an adoption attorney as well as tips for the hiring process.

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The Better Business Bureau is a tool you can use to look up a reliability report on an adoption agency you might already have in mind. Using the BBB, you can benefit from the experiences of others to feel better about your decision. Note that if you are using this Web site to search for an agency near you, set the distance from your postal code to a large area for sufficient results.

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