[jbmom06]

My husband and I are currently researching intl adoption options and Taiwan keeps coming back to my heart. Through my research I have come across the concept of independent adoption with them and have several questions I am hoping somebody with "real life" experience or knowledge can answer.

First, I had never heard of independent intl adoption until I started researching Taiwan. I always assumed you had to go through an agency. How hard is it really to do and how do you know you have all your legal bases covered? I don't mind doing a lot of work myself, but I am scared of not doing it right and losing a child or our money. Where do you start? Is it true that quite a bit of costs are cut out by doing it independently, or do you pretty much end up spending the same amount as an agency adoption in the long run?

We are really hoping to find a boy, preferring age 1.5 to 3 yrs, but will accept infant to 4 yrs if a referral comes up. Are toddlers or infants easier to find in Taiwan if adopting independently? About how long might we expect it to take for a toddler? Basically, if we would like to have the child in our home in about 2 yrs, when should we start?

Finally, I have heard that a lot of agencies won't allow adoptions out of birth order. We currently have two bio girls, ages 2 yrs and 3 mos. We would really like our oldest to stay the oldest, but would we be allowed to adopt a boy from Taiwan if he happened to fall between our girls' ages at the time? Or do they still frown on that in independent adoptions?

I would be truly grateful for any assistance or advice anybody can give me during this research phase of our journey.