The choice of using a public adoption agency is that it guarantees a safe and successful adoption process but the waiting period for its completion is incredibly long.  However, you can quicken the process by going to a private adoption agency but keep in mind that you risk becoming a victim of fraudulent private adoption agency. Hence, you need to exercise more care in making such a move.

There are certain precautions to take in identifying a legitimate private adoption agency:

Direct Referrals
Referral from friends, relatives or colleagues is the most reliable source.  It is also the source that you are aware of the level of service rendered.  Dealing with someone who has used the services of these professional is important as it means that you are more open and prepared to accept advice.

Secondary Referrals
There is also a secondary source as a referral from someone who has a friend, relative or colleague who may have used the service.  This is a less credible source as it is from someone who you don’t have a direct contact hence it is a less credible source but nonetheless more reliable than the next one.

Service Directory
Selecting an adoption agency from the service directory or similar source. In such instances, a little more work is required to verify the reliability factor.  It is always safer to do a check with the relevant government agency to verify the operators’ license and a check with the local Business Bureau on the level of services and whether there are any complaints or unhappiness about their service. Find out how long the agency has been in service, it is always better to get one that is more experienced.

Adoption Support Groups
Participate in adoption support groups to share their experiences, be on their mailing list for up-to-date information on relevant adoption procedures and regulations and most important a list of fraudulent private adoption agencies.

Avoid being a Victim of adoption scams
• Make sure that you are dealing with a licensed adoption agency. Although a licensed Agency is by no means a reliable source, it is still safer than an unlicensed one.

• Avoid agencies that promised a no-wait adoption period.  All adoptions need to go through thorough investigations. It has an impact on the adopted child’s life and so it is an important process to verify the suitability of the potential adoptive parents.  No waiting mean they are not going through the standard procedure and so it should raise your aware level to be cautious.

• Private adoption agencies occasionally asked for deposit or some kind of registration fees.  These agencies are privately funded and operating a business, hence it is normal for them to ask for an upfront fees or some kind of assurance fees or service fee.  It is wise to check around and seek advice from support group.  You are usually going through an emotive state then and your guard might be down, so be careful of scams.

• If the adoption agency promises a lot and over and above what others are prepared to deliver, adopt a cautious attitude.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

• It is emotionally traumatizing to find out later that the child is not the one that you have been looking forward to.  Review the records presented to you carefully about your adoptive child as the agency may pass-off another child to you and deliberately missed out certain details about the child.  There should be consistent information throughout the whole process.

• Read the contracts carefully, as in all legal documents, and be prepared to ask questions or seek clarification before signing and parting with your money.  Seek the advice of legal counsel and have him/her explain to you the legal document and ensure that you have understood every process and take you through it step by step.

• In some instances the biological parents might demand to make contact with you, the adoptive parents.  There is a genuine interest in knowing that the child goes to a good family but there is no necessity to meet the biological parents directly as it is also an emotional attachment and may create problem later especially if the biological parents may harbour some other motives such as emotional blackmail and demand to have more money.

• Adoption is a tedious process and the agency will need to verify or certify that you meet the criteria stipulated in the regulations.  Should an agency miss out on these requirements, be aware and alert to the possibility of dealing with an illegal adoption agency.

An adoption will not only give an otherwise deprived child a warm home, it will also provide the adoptive parents with lots of joy when you raise the child as your own. It involves a lot of emotional attachment to the whole process and in anticipation of the arrival and final holding of the adoptive child, so it is best to be cautious and take the right steps to appoint a reliable agency. You do not want to be deeply scarred by any scams out there.