For some reason I noticed a significant increase in adoptions in and around our location in 2009.  I would hate to attribute it to the economy but what is always so positive in adoption cases nevertheless is that these children were taken into loving homes and shall be provided for. 

Public versus private adoptions.  I think it is a common assumption that private adoptions are expensive, however, in NC there are 5 types of adoptions and depending on which category your case would fall into delineates the price.  Public adoptions where a potential adoptive family seeks out a child for adoption can be quite costly; the agency tries to locate a child and match the child(ren) with the family seeking adoption.  Private adoptions are where either the biological parent(s) and/or the potential adoptive family have already connected (found each other and are interested in the adoption process) and contact an attorney to complete the legal process.  While adoption can be mostly form driven with the Clerk of Court in NC it is a black and white process and is extremely detail oriented.  I would not recommend parties seeking adoption enter Special Proceedings without attorney representation.

I also practice in the area on Interstate Adoption (state to state adoptions).  I do not practice in the area of Foreign/International Adoption.