Top 10 Questions to Ask an Adoption Agency Before You Start
1. What Types of Adoption Does Your Agency Handle?
If you’re a birth parent, ask how often they work with the specific type of adoption you are seeking. If you’re adopting, find out if they work with adoptive families like yours. These details can make a huge difference when choosing the right adoption agency.
2. How Does Your Matching Process Work?
Agencies should be transparent about how they match birth parents with adoptive families. Do they have a waitlist? Are birth parents presented with profiles? How many profiles do they get? This may affect your wait time and involvement, so understanding their method early helps set expectations.
3. What Is Your Adoption Process Timeline?
This is one of the most practical questions to ask an adoption agency, and it applies to everyone involved. Ask for average wait times, from home study approval to placement. Some adoptions take just a few months. Others can span over a year depending on factors like the availability of birth mothers, paperwork, or family preferences.
The agency should explain:
- How long does the home study usually take
- How are adoptive families shown birth parents
- What delays might come up along the way
Understanding the adoption process timeline helps everyone emotionally and logistically prepare for what lies ahead.
4. How Do You Support Birth Parents?
If you’re considering placing a baby for adoption, it’s essential to ask how the agency supports you before, during, and after the placement. Do they offer counseling, legal support, and help with medical or living expenses? Do they stay involved long-term?
If you’re adopting, this is also one of the important questions to ask an adoption agency. An ethical agency cares deeply for birth mothers and doesn’t rush them into decisions. You want to know the person trusting you with their child has been treated with dignity and support.
Their answer to this question says a lot about their values and how they treat everyone involved.
5. What’s Included in the Cost, and Are There Hidden Fees?
Whether you’re adopting privately or through foster care, costs can vary. Some agencies charge flat fees, others bill by milestone. Ask for a breakdown of the total estimated cost and what’s included: home study, counseling, travel, etc.
Transparency matters here. If the agency dodges the question or won’t give a breakdown of the cost of adoption, it’s time to reconsider. Families deserve clarity so they can plan ahead, especially when the adoption process timeline stretches out over such a long period.
6. Are You Licensed and Accredited?
Licensing isn’t just paperwork; it’s protection. One of the most important questions to ask an adoption agency is whether they are licensed by the state and, for international adoptions, if they are Hague-accredited. These credentials help ensure the agency follows ethical guidelines, legal requirements, and industry best practices.
Ask:
- Who are they licensed by?
- How often are they reviewed or audited?
- Have they ever had their license revoked or suspended?
Asking these things gives both adoptive and birth families the reassurance that they’re working with an accountable, professional team. It also builds confidence when choosing the right adoption agency for your needs.
7. What Kind of Post-Adoption Support Do You Provide?
The adoption process doesn’t end once papers are signed. In fact, some of the most emotionally important moments come after placement. That’s why this is one of the most valuable questions to ask an adoption agency, for both birth parents and adoptive families.
For birth parents:
- Are counseling services offered after placement?
- Can you stay in contact with your counselor?
For adoptive parents:
- Are there parenting workshops, support groups, or resources?
- Who do you call if you’re struggling months (or years) later?
Support is ongoing. The right agency stays available and continues offering tools and encouragement beyond placement day. That’s a major green flag when choosing the right adoption agency.
8. What Happens If the Adoption Falls Through?
This is one of the harder questions to ask an adoption agency, but it’s important. Not all adoption plans go through to finalization. A birth parent may change their mind, or a legal challenge might arise. How the agency handles those situations says a lot about how it supports families emotionally and financially.
- Is any part of the fee refundable?
- Will they help you process the experience?
- Can you stay active in the program or do you need to reapply?
Asking this upfront doesn’t mean you’re expecting it, it means you’re preparing for all possibilities. Honest answers here can protect your heart and finances down the road.
9. How Involved Will We Be in Making Decisions?
This question is key for both adoptive families and birth parents. Everyone deserves a voice throughout the process. Ask how involved you’ll be in:
- Choosing or reviewing family profiles (for birth parents)
- Creating an adoption profile or book (for adoptive families)
- Planning post-placement communication or openness agreements
Agencies vary. Some allow full participation, while others use a more structured, hands-off model. Make sure their process lines up with your expectations and comfort level. This can impact everything from your relationship with the other family to your experience during the adoption process timeline.
Let’s Talk: Questions to Ask an Adoption Agency That Cares
At the Adoption Center for Family Building, we guide you through every step and help you ask the right questions to ask an adoption agency before getting started.
Whether you’re a birth parent or a hopeful adoptive family, our team offers honest answers and compassionate support.
Still have questions to ask an adoption agency? Contact us today ; we’re here to help.
