Where do i start?

Being in the military shouldn't be a disqualifier. My husband and I are both military and I haven't found it to be as much of a hindrance as other factors. We are looking into an international adoption through holt international. To adopt from China, you both have to be at least 30! Some countries we are I eligible to adopt from because we are more than 8 yrs apart in age. I have not yet stated the process because I'm in school but since we've made the decision to adopt when I finish, these last two semesters can't go fast enough! I've researched which agency to go through and who will work with us in Texas because some agencies only work with people living in another state. The only problem for military is that if you PCS in the middle of the adoption process, you will have to pay to redo your home study and wait for it to get reapproved. The military will give you a $2,000 reimbursement for adoption expenses though.

Some agencies do not place children with couples where both spouses are under 25, but there are many that do, especially if you have been married for more than a year and have documented infertility. Please understand that agencies are looking for stability of a marriage, stability of a job, and a commitment to adoption that won't change. You may have to do some research, but I'll bet that you can find an agency that will work with people under 25 who meet all other requirements. And, yes, there are agencies that do not like to work with military families. There is often a concern about how deployments and moves can affect a child who, more than any bio child, needs stability and a chance to develop firm attachments. There is also a concern about whether the agency can monitor the family both during and after the adoption, to ensure that both the child and the parents are doing well, given that moves often occur. But, again, there are many military couples who have adopted, and you will simply need to do a lot of research. One place to start can be your own military base, where other military couples can tell you about their experiences with adoption, and where there may be an office that handles some of the paperwork and can talk with you about some possible options. Do remember, of course, that it's not just your agency that must be willing to work with you. If you are adopting internationally, please understand that many foreign countries will not work with people under age 25, even though the U.S. government allows adoption visas to be granted to children adopted by younger couples. (Note: the U.S. government does not allow adoption visas to be given to the children of singles under 25.) And do remember that, in some cases, your placement agency will not be the same as your homestudy agency, and that, in those cases, you will need to find a homestudy provider open to younger and military couples. My best advice to you is to do your homework. Talk to military adoptive families, both locally and around the country. Talk to young adoptive families. Decide on the type of adoption you want before researching specific agencies, as it won't help you to choose an agency that works only domestically if you want to adopt from overseas, or to choose an agency specializing in Eastern Europe if you really want to adopt from an African country. Sharon Sharon

An attorney is more likely to not care about ages. They let the biological families choose. Call around, and if the attorney will not give you an estimate on the phone of his/her prices, then call someone else. A great adoption attorney, that is affordable, will not hesitate to talk to you about his/her fees.