[kimber413]

Hi, and welcome! I'm sorry you had a bad experience with domestic adoption. I think many of us have, and that's why we're here. You've come to a great place for advice and feedback.

Your best bet for finding an agency is to look at the very first post called "Agency Feedback PM List". It's got lots of folks and their agencies listed. You can PM them for information, and specific agency discussion isn't allowed on the boards. If you specifically want Russia, you're in the right place.

As for what's important in an agency... In my opinion, it's not really that important that the agency be in the same state as you. We used an out of state agency, and were very happy with our experience. What IS important is that the agency be communicative, that they answer all your questions up front, that they have reasonable fees (expect around $17,000 in agency fees for an infant up to 3 years old from Russia, older children and special needs, the cost is lower), and most importantly, choose an agency that you feel comfortable with when you speak to their representatives. Also, be aware that, due to new legislation in Russia, the youngest child you will be able to adopt will be around 8 or 9 months old.

One advantage I can see to selecting an agency near you is that you can go in and meet them in person very easily. However, most agencies are willing for you to travel and come visit their offices. If they aren't open to that, then you might want to avoid them.

You can get an agency that's all inclusive, meaning they can do your home study and your adoption, or you can get a different agency for each step. We did the latter and had no problems.

So, look at the list, narrow down your choices through PMs and research, then come back with your top several for additional feedback. We're all willing to share our experiences with our agencies and with Russian adoption in general.

Again, welcome to the adoption journey.