Choosing the Right Agency for Your Adoption Success
Not every adoption professional is built for your family's safety or success.
Many sound the same online, but behind the scenes, there are critical differences that determine how long you will wait, how much you will pay, and how safe your adoption will be.
What Really Determines Success
Every safe adoption depends on three things:
- Licensure: Legal authority to complete adoptions in the states where they advertise.
- Outreach: The ability to reach enough expectant mothers for real, viable matches.
- Cost Transparency and Protection: Clear, upfront fees and safeguards that prevent families from draining their savings on hidden costs, failed matches, or repeat fees.
When these three do not align, families face longer waits, higher costs, and more failed matches.
The Two Biggest Risks to Watch For
1. Limited-Licensed Professionals with “Nationwide” Ads
These agencies are licensed in only a few states (often one to three) but advertise across the country.
They rely on handoffs to other professionals and operate in legal gray areas that are being rapidly closed by new state and federal laws.
Why it matters:
- They can only complete a small fraction of the adoptions they advertise.
- Families face unpredictable waits and incomplete matches.
- FTC and federal enforcement are already restricting this model.
Result: You may pay thousands for opportunities that cannot legally move forward.
2. Unlicensed Consultants and Facilitators
These are the most dangerous entities in adoption today. They advertise as if they were agencies but have no licenses, no trained staff, and no oversight.
Why it matters:
- Often illegal under state and federal law.
- Families carry all legal and financial risk.
- No accountability if a match fails or disappears.
Result: Families lose money, time, and emotional stability, and must start over with a licensed agency later.
Take this link to learn why new laws are restricting these models in an effort to protect families.
Who Provides the Safest Path
Broad-Licensed, National Agencies
Licensed in many states and operating legally wherever they advertise, these agencies offer the most reliable and protective path for families.
They combine strong outreach, licensed social work teams, and transparent cost structures that share the financial risk if a match does not succeed.
Why it matters:
- Licensed across multiple states and compliant with all advertising laws.
- Reaches the largest pool of expectant mothers, creating faster, safer matches.
- Provides financial protection programs that prevent repeated or unexpected costs.
- Backed by trained, licensed staff guiding both families and expectant mothers
How to Protect Your Family
Before choosing any professional, ask three questions:
- In which states are you licensed to provide adoption services?
- Where do you advertise and connect with expectant mothers?
- How are costs structured, and what happens financially if a match does not move forward?
If those answers do not align, your adoption carries unnecessary risk.
With broad licensing, clear costs, and a program that protects your budget, we make adoption safer for every family.
You can move forward with confidence, knowing your journey is built on safety, transparency and success.
The Bottom Line
Adoption safety is not about luck. It is about alignment and safety.
Licensure, outreach, and cost protection must all work together for your adoption to succeed.
Compare Adoption Professionals and See Who Meets All Three Standards.
Contact us today with questions about agencies you are considering, our services and what you need to get started today.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.
