[Jbug]

Please respond to this post if you have or are in the process of adopting from Lithuania. I would love to chat with you about it!

Thanks
Jbug

[team_weiny]

Hi! We are in the process of adopting from Lithuania now. As a matter of fact our home study goes to the INS in the morning!

Thanks

Barbara

[rmprhp]

Hi J Bug!
My DH and I are in the paperchase stage of adopting from Lithuania. We are waiting for our completed homestudy and then will be getting everything apostilled for the dossier. What point are you at? I have been searching for other families going through Lithuania's program.
Gina

[Engel]

Our file was sent late April.
We were told that we are 212 on the list.

Not sure of the rate at which applicants are processed.

Would like more information about:
the orphanages & their conditions
the ages of the children.

Anyone out there who has adopted from Lithuania?

[peggylive]

Are you doing agency adoption or using a private atty?
Peggy

[Engel]

I forgot to say that I am Australian.
Which means that we go through the government authority.

[rmprhp]

Use this link to read info about Lithuanian Orphanges:http://my.execpc.com/~raa/new_programs.htm The link is from a US adoption agency that provides assistance in adopting from Lithuania.
Also, if you are interested, there is a Lithuanian Adoption board on Yahoo: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lithuanian-adoptions
I am the owner/moderator of the board and we swap info concerning Lithuanian Adoptions.
Good Luck!
Gina

[T&N M]

My wife and I are just starting the process and really need info on where and how to start. I have the opportunity to travel to Lithuania fairly often. I visited an orphanage in Vilnius last month. I was moved by the care the children receive but also at the great needs they have. I would like to know what is the prefered method, agency or lawyer?

[rmprhp]

Hi T & N M,
My suggestion is to use an approved agency. Lithuanian adoption laws are complicated and there are only 70 or so foreign adoptions a year from Lithuania, so there aren't a great deal of experienced adoptive families out there to guide you.
A good agency will help guide you through the requirements for your state homestudy, your INS approval, and your Lithuanian Dossier. You will need a lawyer in Lithuania for the final adoption, and that will be provided through your agency.
In a previuos post, I listed a link to a Yahoo Group for families adopting or considering adopting from Lithuania. I would suggest you try that group. We have links to approved agencies and you can ask for member recommendations.
Best Wishes in your Process!
Gina

[Mary's Dad]

My wife and I adopted our daughter, Mary, in 1997, when she was 1 year old. We used a private Attorney in Connecticut (we live there also). The whole procedure from start to finish took 4 1/2 years. Lithuania was just changing from Communism to Democracy and the laws changed many, many times. We are in the process of adopting again, but this time through Romania. We started in Lithuania, but my Lawyer advised me that nothing was going to happen for an extended period of time there. So she advised us to move our Adoption to Romaina. Of course the country has been closed to adoptions on and off for 2 years now.

[TiaB]

Has anyone successfully adopted from Lithuania and if so how long did it take you? We are starting to work with Main Street Adoptions and they say it will take 9 mos, but we hear from other agencies that the wait can take much longer. Has anyone used the main street agency?

[dvona]

Mary's dad,

My current situation sounds exactly like yours and I wonder if the lawyer you are talking about is M.T. If so could you please E-mail me at donvon2@aol.com? I would LOVE to hear your experience.

16 mos. and still no child...

[gregorcarp]

Originally posted by Jbug
Please respond to this post if you have or are in the process of adopting from Lithuania. I would love to chat with you about it!

Thanks




WE ARE A COUPLE WHO ARE SERIOUSLY LOOKING INTO ADOPTION FROM LITHUANIA AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU ARE FAMAILIR WITH MAIN STREET ADOPTIONS AN D NINA WHO HAS RESPONDED TO US. THANKS......GREG AND ARLENE

Jbug

[godsgagirl]

Hi everyone. My dh and I have had our dossier in Lithuania since July 2002--still waiting. It has been a long process with a country in much transition. Our agency is Bethany Christian Services.

[donna kay 1967]

Wow. These are not encouraging messages. The child I am considering adopting is from Lithuania.

Did someone say they receive fairly good care there? I was reading the Effects of Insitutionalized Care forum and was told that the eastern european orphanages do not usually have as good quality care as the south and central american orphanages, and that they may have more attachment difficulties. However they did not specifically mention Lithuania.

I am in Atlanta, GA. If anyone can recommend someone to do an international homestudy, you can send the name to my inbox. We are just getting started, and researching the whole issue.

Thanks,
dk