Start with legal counsel for adoption
After an agonizing experience with infertility, adoption attorneys can help calm your anxieties, protect your rights, and educate you about the different adoption options. Working with a knowledgeable lawyer streamlines the adoption process and may help speed up the process. An adoption lawyer can teach you about state laws and adoption costs, and help you find other adoption resources. Working with a lawyer may be expensive, but it is worth the investment. Just make sure you understand all the fees involved in the adoption process before you hire an attorney.
Decide on a public or private agency
After facing numerous treatment options for infertility, adoption options are few. One important option is deciding whether to work with a public or private agency or to work independently. If you choose to work with a public or private agency, only seek state-monitored, licensed agencies. These public or private agencies can provide a variety of services for you, including counseling and post-adoption services. Public agencies receive funding from state, county and/or federal sources, which lowers the cost of adoption. Private agencies receive funding from private donors such as religious groups or service organizations, and are also funded by fees paid by adopting families. When choosing an agency, do your homework. Find out if other families been satisfied with services received from the agency. Check the Better Business Bureau and state licensing board to make sure the adoption agency's reputation is impeccable.
Adopting independently
After spending months to years undergoing treatments for infertility, adoption may require a shorter waiting period, if you select an independent adoption. With an independent adoption, an attorney guides you in adopting a child without agency restrictions that may hold up the process. With an independent adoption, birth parents are found through networking with friends, family or other adopting couples. You may also consider advertising in newspapers or online. If you choose to go this path, be sure to work with an experienced attorney that specializes in independent adoption.
Do you want an international adoption?
After spending years undergoing treatment for infertility, adoption of a child from a foreign nation may be right for you. International adoptions are less common than domestic adoptions, and account for less than 20 percent of the adoptions in the U.S. Certain agencies specialize in international adoption, but you may also choose to work independently if you desire. Some U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations do apply when adopting internationally. Since 2000, children adopted internationally are allowed to become US citizens as long as one of their parents is a citizen of the United States.
Do you want an open or closed adoption?
Following all the negative stress of infertility, adoption gives you new hope of finally having a family. Still, it's important to talk with the agency about open and closed adoption to see which type is best for your situation. Open adoption occurs when a couple chooses to meet the birth parents, and/or shares pictures and personal information with them. Closed adoption is when you choose to know very little about the birth parents.
Foster care adoption
For couples of all ages, including those struggling with infertility, adoption from foster care agencies is an important option and one that may take less time. This type of adoption works well for families willing to adopt an older child. Adopting a child from a foster care agency may cost you very little, and sometimes nothing at all. Hundreds of thousands of children live in foster care in the US.
Do your homework for adoption
Even if you've had doors close with infertility, adoption can open doors again and give you hope for a life filled with children. Once you begin the adoption process, be prepared for home visits by social workers, medical exams, classes, counseling and other required procedures. Contact different adoption agencies and find out how their process works. Be aware that some adoption agencies only work with couples that are married and heterosexual. Other agencies may have religious requirements of adoptive parents. In addition, after you've paid all the costs to treat infertility, adoption costs may also be pricey. You may be asked to pay for legal fees, as well as living expenses and/or medical expenses for the birth mother of your adopted child.
Surrogacy as an alternative to adoption:
Adoption in the USA can cost around $50,000 including legal fees and medical expenses. Waiting time can be up to three years. For an amount much less than this, you can use your own sperm and have a surrogate in India carry your baby for you. You can have your own child come home to you in less than a year.