[OkieMom]

My husband and I are in the early stages of the adoption process and we have many questions.......

Here is our situation...we are going through Cherokee Nation...we received a call yesterday about a possible placement through a private adoption agency.

Can someone give me a brief overview about private adoption agencies? More specific regarding the fees? We understand that there will be expenses ....attorney, counseling, medical etc. They gave us a figure of $16,000. Is this an average cost?

Are there expenses that may be included which shouldn't be that we need to be aware of?

They also said something about paying part of the fees "upfront" which would not be reimbursed if the birthmom backed out? Is that also the norm?


Thanks for your help!!!

[Linny]

When you are considering an agency.....here are some questions to ask:

Do these fees include the finalization of the adoption. (I've found that in some cases it does....but in many it does not. Hence, you would have to pay an attorney to finalize your adoption.)

Do these fees include counseling for the birthparents? (As Julianna already suggested.)

Do these fees include the medical costs for the birthmother? (We are listed with one agency where this basically does cover her costs....if there are any over her medical card.)

As far as money up front......this is very popular......but in my opinion, not very fair or practical......unless you have a lot of money to spread around or in some cases, 'throw away'. This means that if the birthparents change their minds......you're out. And many agencies and facilitators now will say, "Oh, not really.......we keep your money and find another situation for you." Well, that's great if you have lots of money; but it ties up your money to ever work with another agency or attorney.....if anything should come up! Personally, I would push to have it that you would not pay any money (other than application fees ((which shouldn't be huge))........and money that can be FULLY refunded...........UNTIL.........both birthparents have released that child for adoption! We are limited on our monies......and this is exactly what has happened to us in regards to trying to search. We have not lost any money; but we can't afford to place $5,000 at this agency.........and wait on ONE agency to find a placement for us. And yes, there ARE some agencies that do not take money until everything is signed! You just have to keep looking.

As far as amount......$16,000 seems high.....UNLESS this is also including the finalization amount. If not, many adoptions can be done through an agency for under $10,000 (including attorney's fees)......or certainly less than $15,000. It is a fact that many agencies and attorneys have hiked up their fees because of the adoption tax credit. Problem is, not everyone is able to use that credit. You can't believe the 'professionals' I have spoken with who have told me that it is money that is given to couples to reimburse them.........regardless of their deductibles, and tax owed. (They haven't done their homework!)

Hope this has helped.....


Sincerely,


Linny

[OkieMom]

Thank you both so much for your responses...I already feel so much better.

My husband and I feel like were are walking around in the dark here!!! It helps so much to have people who have been through the adoption process to help answer questions!!!!

I am a newcomer to this forum...but am positive that I will be back....

Thanks again and God Bless!!!

[Bryce's Mommy]

Okie Mom,
I thought I would give my 2 cents here and let you know that we too are in the early stages of adoption and our fee is going to be $18,000.00. we are in Texas and the way it is calculated is based on income level. It is a % of our annual salary. It was hard to believe at first but ours state offers some good tax credits for adoption and in the "big picture" it really is a very small price to pay for having a child. We paid a lot more than that when we did infertility treatment and then with the delivery of our son. Most agencies will give you a break down of the cost if you ask.

Good luck
Les

[trevsmom]

hello
may question is directed toward Linny'S noted re fees less than 10, 000.00. I have been trying to locate and agency w/more reasonable fees, but have not yet found them. can you recommend some agencies/sources for adoption? it would be much appreciated Thanks
Sue

[Support2Adopt]

For anyone looking for information on agencies and fees, it would be very helpful if you were to post what state you're in.
JJ

[lynnor]

I don't know about Oklahoma or dealing with the Cherokee Nation, but here is what I found for my state...

Any reputable private agency charged anywhere from 11k to 20k for a domestic adoption. Reputable the way I define it is: didn't charge a lot of money up front and didn't have complaints filed against them with the state and had a reasonable sized waiting list of parents. Some worked on a sliding scale. The agency that went as low as 11k, we didn't qualify for that because of our income -- would have been 17k for us. The average seemed to be about 15-18k.

Most of these agencies offered birthparent counseling, which dramatically reduces the likely hood the birthparent changing their mind. Esp. useful depending on your state's laws regarding how long she has to change her mind. Many good agencies also offer services after the adoption, such as answering your questions, get-togethers with other adoptive parents, etc.

There is also the option of adopting through the state. Depending on your state's financial situation, this may take a while (in our state, adoptions have been at the bottom of the priority list). State adoptions are much less expensive, but the chances of getting a newborn are almost 0.

And *then*, since you are dealing with the Cherokee Nation, make sure the tribe is ok with the adoption, too. Sometime, even if a Native American bmom wants to give the child up for adoption, the tribe doesn't want to let the child go and can block the adoption.

Good luck.