Where can you find reliable adoption information?

To make good decisions about adoption choices, you need reliable information, specific to the province (or state) and country in which you live. The laws regarding adoption in the province of British Columbia are different from the laws regarding adoption in Alberta or Washington State.

So, where you can you find reliable adoption information? Here are some tips:

  • Start with websites of adoption agencies, provincial and federal governments, and lawyers who specialize in adoption finalization.
  • Look for adoption agencies that are accredited under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. Canada is a full signatory to the Hague Convention so all adoption agencies in Canada are Hague accredited.
  • Search for programs in the countries or regions from which you may want to adopt a child.
  • Note partnerships between agencies. Sometimes there are country program partnerships between adoption agencies in different provinces or countries. If you are a resident of BC, you can adopt children from another province or from the USA. However, in both cases, you must work with an adoption agency in BC.
  • Ignore websites or agencies that offer to complete adoption applications for a flat fee in many different provinces or states. It is very difficult for a lawyer or agency to be competent in many jurisdictions.
  • Be careful about legal advice in online adoption forums or blogs, as the law in your province or country may be different, and laws and policies can change quickly.

I recommend the following websites (listed in alphabetical order):

Adoption Agencies and associations in BC and other provinces:

British Columbia:

Rest of Canada:

Adoption Agencies in the USA:

Medical information about international adoption: