We have to be debt free to adopt?!

#1, there are lots of people in this world who are debt free and the economy has little to do with it. #2, many agencies have different/stricter rules than the actual country. some states have stricter rules than the agency, and some social workers interpret the rules differently than the agency does. If you don't like the answer you are getting, first find out if it is a country rule. It does not sound like it is. Second, find out if this is an agency rule, a state rule, or a social worker preference. Some social workers would look at a particular family's income, debt and living expenses/budget and determine that they cannot afford another child, while another social worker might look at the same info and see where the family could do it.