[tybeemuffin]

This is kind of a play off of the posts in which people are trying to decide whther or not to brave the Hague situation and go ahead with starting the process to adopt from Guatemala.

I was wondering if anyone out there actually got in a situation where they lost there international & or agency fees because a Guatemalan adoption fell through. If so, what was your next step. Did you try again? Did you choose another country?


I personally had a great adoption experience, but I was curious, plus I thought it might give a little insight for people trying to make a decision now.

[SaraAvaandLileesMama]

That is a great question! We have had our referral for 6 mo. and she is in abandonment since 8/15 and nothing has been done. Truthfully I don't think its off
our lawyers desk. But I am about to throw in the towl. Just wondering how much of our money we would loose?

[tybeemuffin]

Originally Posted by Sara's mama

That is a great question! We have had our referral for 6 mo. and she is in abandonment since 8/15 and nothing has been done. Truthfully I don't think its off
our lawyers desk. But I am about to throw in the towl. Just wondering how much of our money we would loose?

That's so sad. I hope things start working out for you. I don't know how much you would loose. I guess it all depends on the policies of your agency and their relationship with that lawyer.

[jrmiller]

I had a referral fall thru after 11 months and I can honestly say I didn't loose out any money. I did get another referral, and had to update my clearances which cost us a little more money, but didn't loose out on the money I had sent to Guatemala

Zach's Mom

[JosieWales]

OK, I'm about scared off from Guat. adoption.

Becca

[tybeemuffin]

Originally Posted by JosieWales

OK, I'm about scared off from Guat. adoption.

Becca

I'm not trying to scare anyone at all. Things can happen with any country. There is always a risk.

[DPline]

Originally Posted by JosieWales

OK, I'm about scared off from Guat. adoption.

Becca

Don't be scared off! Some people do loose referrals (we did when she passed away suddenly at 2.5 months old) but it is not common and as tybeemuffin said, there is always a risk with adoption in any country. Of the people I know of who have lost referrals I don't know of anyone who has lost money. Most people get another referrral. Not saying it doesn't happen - there are definetly unethical agencies out there as well as unusual situations - but try not to let it scare you off.

[jrmiller]

Don't get scared off, If I would of I would have never got my son whom I have had home since last June now, and he is the absolute JOY of our life. Everything in life is scary--- I played sports for many years and my coaches favorite sayings was "you have to go for it to get it". I am glad we did !!!!!

[Kate'sMom2B]

We lost our money. In our case, the referral turned into an abandonment 10 months into the process. Around the same time, the agency was closed down permanently for baby trafficking charges. Months later, the attorney was banned from doing adoptions. Then the abandonment ended anyway when a grandmother claimed our referral.

Just a series of increasingly rotten luck. Because if our agency and attorney had still be able to do adoptions, we could've gotten a new referral without paying half the fees again...

[cerca]

When we lost our referal we did not loose any money. If we had changes agencies we would have ost about $15,000 but we recieved a new referal from the same agency.

Jess

[Kate'sMom2B]

I should clarify further...we *would* have been able to receive a new referral with no extra fees *if* the agency hadn't closed down and if the attorney wasn't banned from adoptions.

I should also add that we began a new adoption with another agency during this whole fiasco...and brought our daughter home in 4 months.