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Question about agency vs lawyer

LIQueenLIQueen
in Adoption

I really do not know much about the whole adoption process.  My husband and I are meeting with an agency in our town on Monday night.  It will be the first time we have talked to someone/got information about this process(besides what they sent us in the mail).  I have seen things briefly online about going through a lawyer instead of and agency and it being most cost effective?  Is this true?  and if you go through a lawyer does the lawyer find the birth mom for you or you have to do that on your own?  Here is the website of the adoption lawyer located by me.  I tried to look at her fee type page, but since I know nothing about adoption, it is confusing to me.  When you go down to the bottom of the page there is a chart and the ending fee says $255-$709.  Does this really mean its under 1000 dollars to adopt a child through her?  I am kinda confused.  Any insight would be great!

 https://www.iladoptionattorney.com/fees.html 

7/18/12-1st RE appointment CD2 blood work taken. Told to move straight to IVF. Starting BC pills and FSH injections plus Lupron. Hopefully doing ET in September Off BCP March 2011 Started TTC July 2011 7 months TTC with no luck an then.... Diagnosed 2/24/12 with 2 Ovarian Cysts. 3/22/12-Lap to remove cysts, look for endo, and see if tubes are clear. 3/22/12-Diagnosed with Severe Endo(tubes are clear). 4/4/12-Post op OBGYN appointment. Told chances of conceiving naturally are very low, but told conceiving in the next few months is our best chance due to being cleaned out during Lap. Referred to a RE. RE said IVF is our only chance to get pregnant. Told only a 20% chance even with two put in. 9/5-Lupron 9/20 Stims(Menopur & Follistim) 9/30 Trigger time 10/2 ER 10/3 fert report-out of 7 eggs retrieved only 2 fertilized. Hello "Thing 1 and Thing 2!" Kinda sad there is none to freeze. Because only 2 we will have 2DT to get them back into a natural envionment 10/4 ET. Found out that only 1 divided. We love you "Thing 2." Thing 1 is now snuggled inside me and we are praying it will be our take home baby! **Did not even make it to my beta, the day before on 10/16/12 I got my F'in period** Such a stab in the heart. Nov 2012-Moving onto domestic newborn adoption! Can't wait for my take home baby. We will try IVF again after 1-2 years of a clear head. Need a break from infertility treatments/issues for my mental sanity! image
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Re: Question about agency vs lawyer

  • IRRIRR member
    No, that is only for the court costs.  This lawyer charges hourly fees which can add up quickly.  Look for a lawyer that has a set fee for the entire process if that is a route you are choosing.  Depending on the lawyer fees can be from $2K to $10K.  This does not include the costs you will pay for advertising, EM expenses, fed ex/mailing costs, etc.  The main difference between an agency and a lawyer is that agency's do the matching and advertising for you and charge everyone regardless of how quickly you match the same fee (some on a sliding scale depending on income).  With a lawyer you will pay for advertising whether they do it for you or you do it on your own and since you are technically trying to locate your own BM, the "matching" is a bit different and a bit easier.  Your expenses for an EM could be higher with a lawyer because when going through an agency the limits they set are tighter.  You will find some people on here that matched really quickly and used a lawyer and paid very little overall because the EM they found was due in less than a month after "matching".  There are others that spend thousands just on advertising.  Bottom line, cost of DIA is not inexpensive and a good range for averages is between $18-$35K including the homestudy, fingerprinting, background checks etc.  If you find an EM on your own with no advertising then these costs could be a lot less.  Hope this helps.  Welcome to the board and GL with your journey.
    image

    Failed Matches - December 2012, May 2013, December 2013
    Moved on to  gestational surrogacy with a family friend who is our angel and due 7/23/15


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  • Dr.LorettaDr.Loretta member

    Also see the FAQs for more info, or page people who have specifically used a law firm. They can give you specific insight.

     

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  • Julie721Julie721 member

    We used a lawyer instead of an agency (used an agency for the home study, but that was it). It ended up being close in cost to the agency, but with the attorney I felt like I knew where the money was going more than I did with the agencies we were looking at and I also loved how the attorney had a desire to help us foster our own relationship with the EPs, whereas the agencies seemed like they preferred being the go between. If you want more info, PM me.

     

    imageimageimageDaisypath Anniversary tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers November 2011: after nearly two years of infertility, we are moving on to domestic infant adoption. February 2012: Matched! May 2012: Placed with our son!
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  • BpmgBpmg member

    We are trying to decide between an attorney and agency as well. The attorney we are considering also locates birth mother. It is such a hard choice! We like the security of being with a larger agency and being able to control the cost (although it is still very expensive.), but also like the individual attention we would receive working through the law firm. The wait times and cost appear to be less through the attorney, but the costs are also not capped so that?s concerning. I am still leaning toward the law firm ? my thought process (for today anyway?) is that if we contract with an agency, we will still need a lawyer, but if we go through a lawyer, we don?t need an agency.

    I would be interested to hear what pros / cons you come up with if you are willing to share!

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