Q: Does BBB have advice on how to find an adoption agency you can trust?
A: Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock, Madonna and many others are building families through adoption. While celebrities might make it look easy, the Better Business Bureau recommends doing your research when enlisting the help of an adoption agency. Adopting a child is a complex, lifelong experience; it is also a legal transaction that can be complicated and expensive.
According to the most recent numbers from adoption experts, there are more than 125,000 adoptions annually in the U.S. While not all adoptive parents rely on an agency, professional help can be key to creating your family, as well as navigating the various laws and requirements. Last year alone, eager families reviewed adoption services with the BBB database more than 35,000 times.
Be informed and educated in your process; there are many paths to adoption and the services, expertise and competency of agencies vary. Because the process can be expensive, complex and take years to complete, you want to make sure you have got the best people showing you the way.
When searching for an agency, BBB recommends that adoptive parents: