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I think no matter what, an attorney is needed to finalize and do the legal work. Some agencies have attornies that they work with and that is included with the agency fee (that is the case with the agency I am working with).
If you go through a facilitator, you will still need to have a homestudy done and in some states that requires a licensed agency, other states only require a licensed social worker. Plus you would need an attorney to finalize.
If you go through an attorney, you will need someone to do your homestudy also. Sometimes the attorney recommends someone. I spoke with a Quad A attorney in Indy and he has a woman at a paralegal service do a lot of his homestudies for adoptive parents, again it depends on your State's laws regarding homestudies.
We are using an agency because we think it is important that the birthparents receive as much counseling before and after placement as possible so that they cannot only make the right decision in their situation but also so that they are at peace with whatever decision they choose. The agency we are using is a small agency only licensed in our state. For AA and biracial babies they have a TOTAL fee of $10K. No added medical, bmom expenses, or attorney fees, those are all part of the package. The homestudy fee was separate ($1000). Plus their application fee is minimal and none of the $10K is due until placement and then the rest is due at finalization.
It's difficult when you are working with a specific budget and you see situations listed and they seem reasonable. Until you read that legals, finalization, travel and bmom expenses are all extra. Then you are entering into unknown territory. In my personal opinion, I would steer clear of any attorney, facilitator or agency that required a lot of money upfront.
Also, facilitators are not legal in every state, so double check yours to see if it is legal. From my personal research into facilitators I've found that they usually require thousands of dollars upfront for a one to two year contract time. If that time is up and you are not matched, I believe you are out that money.
Ultimately, call around, surf the net, you can find reasonable fees, it just takes a little more digging around!
Good luck,
Tammi
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