[Ktates]

Hi-
I agree with Kay's advice - I know with Russia it is very important that you pick an accredited agency and right now not one that networks or umbrellas. However we did use a local agency (that was accredited and reputable) - and we have really been glad that it was closer to us - the office manager was a notary so that made things easier or when we needed to drop off paperwork as well as meeting other adoptive parents and getting together at agency functions locally.

We started researching local agencies first and figured if we didn't find one that we really liked and had good references we would look nationally - but we never had to.