[lynnor]

I don't know about Oklahoma or dealing with the Cherokee Nation, but here is what I found for my state...

Any reputable private agency charged anywhere from 11k to 20k for a domestic adoption. Reputable the way I define it is: didn't charge a lot of money up front and didn't have complaints filed against them with the state and had a reasonable sized waiting list of parents. Some worked on a sliding scale. The agency that went as low as 11k, we didn't qualify for that because of our income -- would have been 17k for us. The average seemed to be about 15-18k.

Most of these agencies offered birthparent counseling, which dramatically reduces the likely hood the birthparent changing their mind. Esp. useful depending on your state's laws regarding how long she has to change her mind. Many good agencies also offer services after the adoption, such as answering your questions, get-togethers with other adoptive parents, etc.

There is also the option of adopting through the state. Depending on your state's financial situation, this may take a while (in our state, adoptions have been at the bottom of the priority list). State adoptions are much less expensive, but the chances of getting a newborn are almost 0.

And *then*, since you are dealing with the Cherokee Nation, make sure the tribe is ok with the adoption, too. Sometime, even if a Native American bmom wants to give the child up for adoption, the tribe doesn't want to let the child go and can block the adoption.

Good luck.