If you are thinking about adopting a child, one of the biggest decisions to make is whether to see an adoption agency or go through a private adoption. There are benefits are using each option, but you should also be aware of the drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of using an adoption agency.

Pro: Agencies provide background and legal services

When you go through an adoption agency, they take care of everything for you. They begin by running a background check on the birth parents and learning more about their family history and any genetic diseases that might run in their family. If the birth mother alone is trying to have her child adopted, the agency also tries to get in contact with the birth father to make sure there won't be issues later on with the adoption. They also handle all of the paperwork and legal aspects of the adoption.

Con: They are more expensive

Naturally, since the adoption agency takes care of everything for you, they are going to be more expensive. It can be costly when you consider running background checks, hiring a lawyer, and making sure the birth parents are compensated fairly. If you choose a private adoption, you won't have some of these larger costs.

Pro: Adoption agencies provide counseling and other resources

Going through adoption is a major life event, both for you and the birth parents. Adoption agencies understand the toll it can take on you, so they offer counselors and social workers to provide counseling as needed. Many agencies even have a requirement that birth parents and adoptive parents see one of their social workers to make sure this is the right decision. They want to avoid birth parents changing their mind at the last minute, which is one of many reasons they provide this important resource.

Con: You have limited contact with the birth parents

While you will meet the birth parents on multiple occasions, the contact with them will be limited and approved by the agency. This is much different than a private adoption, where you have direct contact with the birth parents. If you want to learn more about the birth parents and spend quality time with them, an agency adoption might not be the right fit for you.

Pro: Agencies have multiple children in need of adopting

While the wait list can sometimes be long, there are typically more birth parents looking for adoptive families. If you choose private adoption, it will be more work finding a birth mother who is looking for an adoptive family. You are placed with potential birth parents by the agency, which also saves you the time and energy of looking for them yourself.

If you decide to go with an independent adoption instead of an adoption agency, make sure you hire an attorney to be sure everything is done legally. To learn more, contact a business like Ritter & LeClere APC Attorneys At Law.

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