This section provides information to help expectant parents find a public or private adoption agency, adoption service provider, or attorney that can guide them through the adoption process. Public and licensed private agencies are required to meet State standards and have more oversight to ensure quality services. Unlicensed agencies and facilitators often do not have the same State oversight; consequently, there may be more financial, legal and emotional risk for expectant parents and birth families using unlicensed services.
5 Things to Know Before You Choose an Adoption Attorney
Adoption Network Law Center
Poses five useful questions to ask when considering an adoption attorney: which service providers and services will be involved, what prior experience does the adoption attorney have, are they licensed and do they have a positive consumer rating, who will be the direct point of contact throughout the adoption process, and what are the associated costs?
Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
Compiles the national membership organization of attorneys with expertise in adoption. The site includes a directory of adoption attorneys in all 50 States.
Adoption Professionals: Comparing Adoption Agencies, Attorneys, Consultants and Facilitators
Adoption Network Law Center
Explains the roles and differences between adoption agencies, adoption attorneys, adoption facilitators, and adoption consultants.
Choosing an Adoption Agency
Johnson
National Council for Adoption
Offers advice to expectant parents on choosing the best adoption agency for their family and situation. The webpage provides a list of questions for expectant parents to ask when they first meet with an adoption agency.
Find Legal Help
American Bar Associatio
Lists lawyers by location and offers other helpful information on finding and using a lawyer, explanations about the law, State and local legal resources, and more.
Getting Started
Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA)
Shares a list of AAAA-affiliated adoption agencies and adoption attorneys and also explains the process of adoption, choosing between private vs agency adoption and open vs closed adoption, birth parents' rights, and provides more useful information.
National Foster Care and Adoption Directory
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Provides contact information for private and public adoption agencies in every State and U.S. Territory. Grouped results note languages spoken by agency staff.
National Infertility & Adoption Directory
Adoptive Families
Provides a searchable database of adoption agencies, attorneys, and professionals in the U.S. and abroad. Users can search by State, adoption country, and agency name.