Suppose the adoption services are being handled by your minister, your lawyer, a counselor, a doctor, or a friend anybody who is not licensed by the state authorities as an adoption agency. These are all considered an independent or private adoption. Maybe you have made contact directly with the birthparents yourself. There is no middleman. These are also considered independent or private adoptions.
Private adoptions can be very risky.
I get a call each month from adopting families who have proceeded privately only to find themselves in a nightmarish situation. They lose sleep, money and their motivation. We advise all adopting parents not to proceed privately or work through a referral source without checking with several adoption agencies first. If you want to call our agency we will be glad to help you. But you don t have to call us.