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I'll tell you....being the momma to two Asian babies (now grown) and two AA babies (still pre-schoolers).....I think you'll find that, anymore... the fees for all babies tend to be the same across the board.
13K sounds bad.....is a little high....but I assure you that it really isn't compared to the recent fees I"m seeing over the last six months. (And I keep a pretty good touch on the pulse of adoption agencies and fees, practices, etc.) It would depend on whether this fee includes finalization and all legalities involved. If it doesn't...then the agency is usually charging too much. IF it does....this isn't too 'over the top' in a lot of places.
Unfortunately, when the federal adoption tax credit came into place, a lot of agencies/facilitators and attorneys USED that concept as an excuse to RAISE their OWN FEES. This is unfortunate....because a lot of people aren't able to use that credit---especially after their first or second adoption.
I'll tell you what I have done too........I have actually googled a particular state: For instance:
Indiana adoption agencies.
A long list will apear. Copy it off, and just start calling. Have a list of previously prepared questions to ask all of them:
What are your average fees for an entire adoption?
What do you charge for a homestudy?
What kind of arrangements do you require between birthmothers and adoptive couples...or do you allow them to determine this themselves with the agency as the mediator?
What's the average wait for a baby through your agency?
What kind of money do you require up front?
(And STAY AWAY from ANY ENTITY that requires any kind of moderate to big time fee up front...even if they say they'll 'roll it over into another situation'. IMO, these agencies are not worth the working with....but that's just my opinion.)
These are just some of the few questions to ask. You'd be surprised how much info you can gather this way; and if you don't find one you like right off of the bat, I guarantee that you'll learn more and more about adoption in general.
I hope this helps. Please Pm me if I can be of any further help to you.
Sincerely,
Linny
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