I called around, using the Yellow Pages, and found one agency that I liked. They said that they begin showing hopeful parent profiles to placing mothers as soon as the home study is completed, so we could become parents in a matter of months. The longest that any couple had waited with them was just under 2 years. SOLD! I asked CSS what their policy was on signing with 2 agencies, and they said that was fine with them. They said that we could adopt our first child from another agency, and the timing would work out just right for adopting our second child through CSS. So, I signed up for the orientation with agency #2.

This agency turned out to be such a quality place, and I was so lucky that it worked out that way because I truly did not have a clue about adoption agencies. I did not know what to look for. I did not know what questions to ask other than “How long will it take?” and “How much will it cost?” Someone was looking out for me because I would have been a good candidate for being cheated.

The orientation for this agency was very small – just three couples. The agency was a little more expensive than CSS but not by much. Back in 1999, when I attended the orientation, the cost was $11,250 plus “birthmother expenses” (reimbursements to the placing mother). The agency said to budget for $2,000 in “birthmother expenses.” Thank goodness I had already recovered from my “sticker shock” from the last orientation, so I was actually able to pay attention to all that the director was saying.

This agency had no wait list. If we wanted to sign with them, there was a $250 application fee. The application came in two phases. After our application was approved, we would pay a $1,600 home study fee. After completing the home study, we would put together a life book for placing mothers to look through and, hopefully, choose us to adopt the baby. The bulk of the fees would not be due until after the placing mother’s parental rights fully terminated.

I learned for the first time that, in the State of Georgia, a placing mother has 10 days to change her mind about placing her baby for adoption after she signs the relinquishment papers. If the placing mother did not go through with the adoption at this agency, then the hopeful adoptive parents would not lose any money. I have since learned how unusual this arrangement is. Many adoption agencies require you to pay the adoption fees in stages. If the adoption falls through, you either lose the money altogether, or you get a credit toward a future adoption. If you get a credit and then want to leave that agency, you walk away from that money. I know of people who have lost upwards of $15,000 from multiple failed adoptions. It would be hard enough to recover from the broken heart – the depleted bank account would be the final kick in the pants.

I was very impressed with the agency. I took home an application and got to work. FINALLY, I was making progress. Maybe I was going to become a mother after all!

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