[Lexie]

Hi there-
I wanted to get some advice on using an agency versus using an attorney. I have been talking to a very good adoption attorney in California. Since I am living overseas my situation is a bit more complicated. He told me that I should expect total costs of about $27-30K. The attorney places mainly caucasian children and I know that those situations require a lot of advertising etc and that can increase the cost. I have seen many agencies on the internet that seem to have programs for AA and mixed race children with total fees of between $12-20K and as a mixed race family we are looking for a mixed race child.

I was wondering if anyone else experienced a much higher rates from attorneys and the benefits of going that route. I am wondering if I am paying a higher rate for no reason and should try to make the agency thing work.

Any thoughts or advice--
thanks,
Lexie

[Linny]

Lexie:
I know we've pm'ed each other....but I wanted to add that my personal opinion is that----generally----with an agency....you have a little more 'protection' I think. The best bet, I think...is working with an attorney that works closely with other agencies. Makes for good networking and such. I think this attorney sounds VERY high...and I would hesitate to adopt from CA...simply because they have a long 'waiting time'. While I understand this is important....I think something like 30 days would be 'too long' for us to wait. Just me.......

Sincerely,

Linny

[lisa in venice]

We have used CA attoneys twice now and have paid CONSIDERABLY less than that and waited just weeks. I think these folks are used to dealing with people who want only full CC babies and are willing to pay high birth paents expenses. We on the other hand were only looking for Biracail and AA babies and unwilling to pay expenses and ya know what? We found just what we wanted very quickly. We were able to "piggyback" on other people's advertising and find our chidlren very quickly. We were able to choose sitautons with very little cost.

The problem with attoneys is that you still have the risk of losing money if the expectant family choose to parent. You don't have that risk with agencies. There is not a long wait in CA every one I know who adopted a CC child thru an attoreny waited less than a year ans those who adopted children with AA heritage waited less than six months. The attorneys here do a very high volume, much higher than any of the local agencies.

Another thing to think about is that by law in CA all independent adoptions require the disclosure of all of the info of both birth and adoptive families. This was not a big deal for us but I know for some people it can be a little scary.

lisa

[Lexie]

Thanks Linny and Lisa,

Lisa,
I would love to know the attorneys you used if you feel comfortable recommending them. Pls pm me--
thanks,
LeMoy