Attorney & Facilitator Child Adoption Agencies

You always need an attorney to finalize an adoption, but the attorneys we talk about here do more than just help you with finalization. Some attorneys actually act in the role of an adoption agency. That means they work for adoptive families to locate an expectant birthmother or an available child. Most attorneys work with infant adoptions; many limit the arrangement even further to include only healthy infants.

Because attorneys aren't qualified to provide home studies, you have to work with an agency for that, but the attorneys handle the rest of the adoption themselves. They may guide you to place ads for birthmothers to read and respond to, or they may connect you with a birthmother who responded to their advertising.

Here are some things to know about attorney adoptions:

• Although attorney adoptions can be more expensive than some private agency adoptions, you often receive a placement faster, usually within a few months, most within the year.

• In addition to the attorney fees (commonly between $8,000 and $15,000), you can also expect to pay for

o Birthmother expenses (how much depends on the laws in your state)

o Medical expenses relating to the pregnancy

o Any advertising and other costs you incur to locate a birthmother yourself

o Any additional services, like counseling for the birthmother prior to placement

• Adoption laws vary by state If you decide to pursue adoption through an attorney, be sure to get one who specializes in adoption, not one who dabbles in it.

Facilitator adoptions

Facilitators are individuals who charge a fee to adoptive parents to locate or find a birthparent. Facilitators usually place only healthy newborns.

When you work with a facilitator, you pay an upfront fee (usually between $4,500 and $8,000, although occasionally much more) to begin the process. This fee goes toward the advertising used to find birthmothers and the facilitator's expenses and profit. Alter the facilitator locates a birthmother; you meet with or talk to the birth mom by phone. You also pay the birthmother's living expenses, as well as any medical expenses. If the birthmother asks for counseling, you have to pay for that, too. In addition, you're responsible for attorney fees (you still need to find an attorney to do the legal work associated with the adoption), as well as a home study fee (legitimate facilitators require that you complete a home study with a licensed agency). When all is said and done - and if the birth mom follows through with her adoption plan - you adopt the baby when it's born.

Some things to keep in mind about facilitator adoptions:

• The facilitator you work with may not be in your state. In fact, the facilitator could be in one state, the birthparent in another, and the adoptive family in yet another. So you don't necessarily get the chance to have face-to-face contact with the birthmother or the person who connects you to her.

• Because facilitators find birthmothers all over the United States, you're more likely to deal with interstate adoption issues. Basically, the adoption laws of the state where the birthmother lives are the laws you have to abide by. To protect yourself and the progress of the adoption, make sure that everything you do meet the legal requirements of the state where the birth mom lives.

• A facilitator doesn't have to be a social worker, nor does he or she have to have any special training or experience. Find out what the facilitator's credentials are; some may just be entrepreneurs.

• Currently, most states don't license adoption facilitators, and no government agency regulates or oversees how they conduct their business. If you believe that your interests can best be served by going this route, do your homework and investigate the facilitator you plan to work with.