It can be overwhelming to begin researching adoption professionals, trying to find the right one for you and your family. Among other tasks, you'll need to check out their website and Better Business Bureau rating, as well as talk to a representative from their company on the phone.

To help you simplify your adoption research, we're providing some quick info on what you can expect with a Lifetime adoption. Keep reading to learn about our ratings, reputation, professionals, and our Founder!

Today's we're sharing a top adoption tip from Lifetime's Founder & adoptive mother, Mardie Caldwell!

"From your very first impression through to the finalization of your adoption, a little sweetness goes a long way with your adoption professional AND with birth mothers.

Lifetime Adoption is pleased to announce a brand-new blog series we're launching today, "Your Adoption Checklist." And we're starting with a checklist for the very beginning of how to start the adoption process: interviewing and choosing the adoption professional you'll hire. There are crucial questions to ask before you commit to an adoption professional, no matter what their specialty is. 

Checklists are beneficial because they can cut down on some of the stress surrounding the adoption process. Also, studies have shown that checklists are valuable tools for avoiding human error. Those in high-stakes careers use checklists for exactly this reason. For example, surgeons who use checklists see a 38% reduction in post-surgery complications.* 

So without further ado, here's a checklist of 20 important questions to ask adoption professionals:

Choosing an adoption professional to work alongside you is an important step in the adoption process. No matter what type of adoption professional you’re hiring, there are some crucial questions to ask before committing. Most of these questions we’ve listed will apply to the hiring of qualified adoption facilitators, adoption attorneys, social workers and private agencies.

As you start your search for a professional who will become your partner in building your family through adoption: We’re sharing a list of 20 questions that you can ask adoption professionals in a phone interview. Feel free to save this list to your phone, Internet favorites, Pinterest, or simply print it out.

Once you begin communication with an adoption professional, how often should you expect to hear from them? Are they available when you call with questions, or do you get sent to voicemail?

Once you’ve decided that adoption is the path you'll use to start your family, you're probably wondering how to start the process of adoption. Getting started can feel mind-boggling. Some of the questions on your mind may include: should we adopt through a facilitator or agency? Do we want an open adoption exchange with the birth parents? Can we afford to adopt? Here are some tips to help you discover the particulars of adopting a baby or child:

The following was excerpted from Lifetime Founder Mardie Caldwell’s most recent adoption book, Called to Adoption:

The word “adoption” conjures up different images for different people, and for good reason. Adoptive parents have several paths to choose from, including independent adoption, private adoption, and foster care adoption. And along those various paths are even more choices, such as fostadopt, open adoption, semi-open adoption, and closed adoption, as well as various types of agencies that help birth parents and adoptive parents move the process to completion.

Independent adoptions are done privately and directly between the birth parent and adoptive family, or with the assistance of an adoption center or attorney; there is no legal intermediary. If you need more assistance as well as someone to serve as a go-between between you and the birth parent, adopting through a private agency will be best. Private agencies will work hard to find an appropriate match for all parties involved. Foster care adoption also provides an intermediary (a county social worker), but involves more uncertainty, as most birth parents will be actively pursuing reunification with their child or children.

The decision to adopt a baby never comes quickly. Here at Lifetime, we see God’s hand at work in the lives of thousands of couples. We rejoice with them, when their prayers are answered. We love seeing the photos that are sent to us of beautiful babies in the arms of their happy moms and dads!

Every Monday, Mardie Caldwell, COAP, the founder and CEO of Lifetime Adoption answers a question, shares her thoughts, or posts a video.