Guest Author - Karen Ledbetter

Most adoption agencies, facilitators, attorneys, and potential birth parents are honest people with the best of intentions. However, unscrupulous people do lurk around corners and take advantage of a hopeful adoptive family´s vulnerability. Unethical adoption agencies, facilitators, and attorneys have taken thousands of dollars from families, with no intention of ever placing babies in waiting arms. Some of these same so-called professionals have taken advantage of trusting birth parents as well. Fortunately, some of these scam artists have faced criminal prosecution; but many of them continue victimizing unsuspecting adoptive and birth families by changing personal names, state locations, and business names. Sometimes they don´t even bother to check state adoption laws before setting up business.

As a prospective adoptive family, it´s incredibly important that you protect yourself by using good judgment in working with any adoption professional. Ask the professional lots of questions about fees and placement procedures. Ask the agency/attorney/facilitator if s/he works with any other agency/attorney/or facilitator. It´s possible that you could choose a reputable professional, only to have him/her unknowingly refer you to an unethical person for possible placement.

Check an adoption professional´s credentials through its state licensing agency, Better Business Bureau, and state attorney general´s office. A legitimate adoption professional will gladly answer all questions and will have no problem with a prospective adoptive family verifying his/her credentials.

Ask other new adoptive families about the professionals they worked with. Most will answer your questions honestly. Be sure to ask if they would adopt through that particular professional again.

Familiarize yourself with adoption laws in your state and in the state of any professional you consider working with. This is especially important where adoption facilitators are concerned. Some state laws permit adoption facilitators but forbid their taking money for services provided. Other states prohibit adoption facilitators altogether, but this has not stopped unscrupulous people from setting up business in these states and taking money from unsuspecting families. Do not work with a facilitator operating in a state with laws prohibiting adoption facilitators. Keep in mind, too, that just because adoption facilitators are legal in a state does not necessarily mean all are reputable.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of asking questions and checking credentials. If you do not know anyone who has recently adopted, join an adoption e-mail list and/or visit adoption web sites. ABCAdoptions.com has a list and message board dedicated specifically to adoption scams. Both provide valuable information and networking for prospective adoptive parents. A few web sites list known and suspected adoption scam artists.

Do all you possibly can to avoid getting scammed by an adoption professional: check credentials, familiarize yourself with various state adoption laws, and don´t be afraid to ask questions. Taking these important steps could protect both your heart and your wallet.