Speaking from experience (we've adopted two sons), if you go through an agency, I'm pretty sure the agency handles everything. You have to have your own lawyer of course, but otherwise everything else is done through the agency. And with an agency, there's tons of red tape. Your life is combed through with a very fine toothed comb. Financial records, home visits, psychological profiles, the list is endless!
We adopted both our boys privately. We knew both mothers. We simply hired our lawyer, he drew up the paperwork, everything was signed, and now we have two active little boys!
Well, actually there was more to it than that. No paperwork could be signed until the babies were born. Within hours of each child's birth, we had to employ the services of another lawyer to present the birth mother with reliquishment papers. Essentially it's her agreement to allow us to adopt. In SC, where we live, the mother has six months to change her mind! Talk about time standing still. Anyway, once she signs her intent, we hire another lawyer(makes three now) to represent the child, called the guardian ad litem. In the case of our first adopted child, we had to run a newspaper ad for three weeks looking for the birth father to step forward and reliquish his rights.(The girl was pretty sure who the father was, but not 100% certain.) Once the six month waiting period elasped, a court date was set. The birth parents do not have to be present. (Their agreement is all you need.) At the hearing, the guardian ad litem states that the adoption is in the best interest of the child. The judge asks if we know what we're doing, blah, blah. Then he grants the final decree. Names change, new birth certificates are issued, etc. etc. And now you have a new bundle of energy running around somewhere!
Wonderful experience! But with two biological children and two adopted children, we're done!
SQD (if you want to anything else, email me privately)
