What to Look For in a Private Adoption Agency
Charlene J. Nuble
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The first thing you should look for in a private adoption agency is a license that is issued by the state. Be aware of adoption scams where people pretending to work for private agencies take your money under the guise that it will be used to find you a child. Then you may later find out that 
the agency is just a hoax.
To prevent from being scammed, as adopting from private agencies can cost a much more than adopting from a public agency, ask first for the agency's license and their background as well as previous child placements.
Finding a Private Adoption Agency
You can find local private adoption agencies by looking under the Social services section of the yellow pages. You will usually see these agencies under that, if not, you should look if your yellow pages has an Adoption Agencies section in which case you'd be likely to find a private agency there.
You may also consult the local office of the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), they handle both private and public agencies. You can also purchase the National Adoption Directory (NAD) where there is listed all adoption firms, adoption specialists and local adoptive support groups.
In the NAD, you can find support groups that can recommend you to reputable adoption agencies, again to prevent from getting scammed.
Cost
As stated earlier, the problem with private agencies is the cost. After you decide what kind of child you want in your family, the agency then charges you in the range of $8000 to more than $20,000 for finding the child and going about the adoption process, both for domestic and international adoptions. As this reasonably is a large amount, some agencies agree to get paid in installments. Make sure that you arrange a proper paying scheme. Sometimes, misunderstandings could delay proceedings.
What do Private Agencies do to get me an adopted child?
Some agencies include in their fees, the finding and matching of the adopted child, however, in some states private agencies cannot be the facilitators of the finding and matching of the adoption, in which case they are only able to handle the legal part, hence the name independent attorneys.
To prevent from being scammed, as adopting from private agencies can cost a much more than adopting from a public agency, ask first for the agency's license and their background as well as previous child placements.
Finding a Private Adoption Agency
You can find local private adoption agencies by looking under the Social services section of the yellow pages. You will usually see these agencies under that, if not, you should look if your yellow pages has an Adoption Agencies section in which case you'd be likely to find a private agency there.
You may also consult the local office of the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), they handle both private and public agencies. You can also purchase the National Adoption Directory (NAD) where there is listed all adoption firms, adoption specialists and local adoptive support groups.
In the NAD, you can find support groups that can recommend you to reputable adoption agencies, again to prevent from getting scammed.
Cost
As stated earlier, the problem with private agencies is the cost. After you decide what kind of child you want in your family, the agency then charges you in the range of $8000 to more than $20,000 for finding the child and going about the adoption process, both for domestic and international adoptions. As this reasonably is a large amount, some agencies agree to get paid in installments. Make sure that you arrange a proper paying scheme. Sometimes, misunderstandings could delay proceedings.
What do Private Agencies do to get me an adopted child?
Some agencies include in their fees, the finding and matching of the adopted child, however, in some states private agencies cannot be the facilitators of the finding and matching of the adoption, in which case they are only able to handle the legal part, hence the name independent attorneys.
Be aware of adoption scams where people pretending to work for private agencies take your money under the guise that it will be used to find you a child.