We were told that our attorney in Guatemala was doing our adoption as "a favor" and our Facilator (who was represented as an attorney at the beginning) lies. We paid in full when we went into PGN...where our file spent 5 full months. The director took another job in another city. Our child had no issues that slowed down the process - but it still took a year for her to come home. Other families received "better" facilitators and their children were referred and home before our file went into PGN. Some babies were taken into custody and the families were not told for months. This adoption was an awful experience. Our child came home malnourished. Run...do not walk away from this agency!!
I would adopt with this agency again. I felt comfortable they were doing their best. Have known Rudy a long time. Our lawyer in Guatemala was wonderful and the foster mother was absolutely unbelievable! If I were to adopt again, I wouldn't hesitate to use them.
COTW-MO was wonderful to work with! We recently brought our beautiful baby girl home in November 2007. It only took 10 month's from initiation to her coming home. The trip to Guatemala (instructions, advise, pick-up, interpreter, Lawyer In-Country) went smooth and was very well organized. COTW did everything described in the contract/fee schedule. We received updates, pictures and videos every month and felt well informed about changes happening in Guatemala. Our baby was with a wonderful foster family, loved and very well taken care of. Rudy and Maria are very special people who truly care about their babies. Prior to signing up with them, we had a terrible experience with another agency, waited 3 years with the Bulgarian and domestic programs and spent a lot of money with no results. We wish we had chosen COTW-MO the first time around. The social outings are nice and bring together parents going thru the process (past/present) to learn about others experiences. There were only a few minor things that we would have liked differently, but these may not have been under their control...
1) one office person gave us incorrect information regarding obtaining her social security number causing unnecessary trips to the SS office
2) her final court date took 6 months to schedule (last week vs. 2007)
3) we would have liked more than 3 days notice prior to the travel date because we could not use our freq. flyer miles and the air fare was substantially higher.
Other than those 3 issues which people should be made aware, it was a great experience. We would HIGHLY RECOMMEND COTW-MO to any prospective parents deciding to adopt, and have recommended them to other friends. We are very grateful for all they did in helping us get our precious baby.
We completed an adoption with this agency in 2007. We originally started with another agency, but switched to COTW because of problems we were having with our first agency. Overall, our experience was very good, and we would definitely use this agency again. In the very early stages of our process, our daughter received a concerning medical report, and COTW and the Guatemalan attorney were very understanding and made sure that our daughter was evaluated by the necessary specialists (these were all precautionary measures ... she is a perfectly healthy little girl). Our daughter had wonderful care, and we had no issues on our visit and pick-up trip. On a day-to-day basis, there were times that I would have liked more timely and thorough communciation, but in general, we were very pleased with our experience.
COTW-MO was fantastic in all phases in the process!! Took only 10 month's from initiation to bringing our blessed daughter home. Well organized on our visits to Guatemala (drop-off, pick-up, foster family, interpreter, Lawyer In-Country). We thought so much of Agency that we hired Rudy to navigate through issues/pratfalls our first agency walked away from (This is our second adoption from Guatemala). We truly wish we had chosen COTW-MO for our first adoption. I would highly recommend COTW-MO for any prospective parents deciding to adopt!!! Finally, we really enjoyed the social outings where they brought together parents going thru process (past/present) and it aided in our comfort realizing other's were facing similar situations.
I have known Rudy and Maria for 13 years. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about their ethics and their love for the children that they help find forever homes. I have adopted four times. Two with COTW and two times with Rudy when he worked for another agency. Rudy learned what not to do from the previous agency and is highly recognized in the embassy waiting area for his wonderful work. Each time, our lawyer helped several families while we sat and waited our turn. If I could, I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!
We adopted a beautiful and amazing baby girl. Even with all the changes that were taking place in Guatemala and registering with the Central Authority, we still brought her home at 7 1/2 months of age. We are so happy that we worked with COTW and would definitely use their services again. They were very open and honest and answered any question that I had. During my 2 visits to Guatemala and my pickup, everything went completely smooth and the attorney that handled our case was excellent. I have nothing but great things to say about Rudy, Maria and all the staff at COTW. We are eternally grateful for all they did and would highly recommend them to anyone.
I believe this agency is amazing. They are truely in it for the best interest of the children. They were extremely helpful during this process, and always honest about the risks during this unsettling time in Guatemala. They were responsive to my questions and if they did not have an answer they always followed up until they have one. I believe they are truely special and will always have a special place with my family.
We have nothing but great things to say about this agency. From start to finish, we felt like they were part of our extended family. We made several trips to Guatemla and they took care of everything. We brought home our beautiful baby girl in October 2007 and couldn't be happier. Mu husband and I would highly recommend this agency.
We completed our adoption in October and overall we had a very good experience. The agency did have some personnel changes which sometimes meants calls or e-mails weren't returned as fast, but I would still recommend them.
We visited our baby three times and experienced no problems with the pick-ups and drop-offs. Also we had a very good experience at the embassy, which we noticed was not the norm, while we were there waiting. The whole process took the length of time they projected and our baby had wonderful care and is doing great.
Did not have phone calls/emails returned in timely manner... (took at least three phone calls to hear back)
At the time we adopted the agency was going through some growing pains and new employees- who were not experienced in Guatemala adoptions. Things are probably better now.
When going through our adoption- the yahoo group was INCREDIBLE. Really a great supportive bunch of parents. Still I would recommend them to others. ;)
Major problems with communication among the staff. One person never knew what the other person was handling or correct updates on how the case was proceeding. Added to the frustration level greatly.
I felt that the staff was very disorganized and did not know what one another was doing. Calls and e-mails were not answered or returned at times. I received little help, nor felt like they cared, in pickup arrangements. However, there were no additional costs, just no support for a huge life changing task. I received monthly updates, but nothing more. There are so many things I could have done to make my experience better, but no one bothered to take that extra step. I'd paid my money so..
I know they experienced some staffing changes during my process and replacements were inexperienced, but I expected more than mediocrity from an agency. I can't say I would recommend them at this time. They would not be a horrible choice, but I know of a MUCH better agency.
The agency is great--and their Guatemalan attorney is very good, ethical, and reputable--the only problem is that he is slow and groups cases--so you may have to wait to move to the next stage in the process until there are others to be filed with your case. We were stuck in the Hague mess of 2003--but did bring our son home. Terri Thompson is great to work with--honest, ethical, a great communicator both phone and email. This is just not the fastest atty if you are wanting to bring your child home as fast as possible.
We completed an adoption with this agency in 2004. We brought our child home in 4 months, which was wonderful. However it was an extremely frustrating 4 months because of the difficulties this agancy had with communicating with/showing respect to their clients at the time.
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Reviews
We were told that our
We were told that our attorney in Guatemala was doing our adoption as "a favor" and our Facilator (who was represented as an attorney at the beginning) lies. We paid in full when we went into PGN...where our file spent 5 full months. The director took another job in another city. Our child had no issues that slowed down the process - but it still took a year for her to come home. Other families received "better" facilitators and their children were referred and home before our file went into PGN. Some babies were taken into custody and the families were not told for months. This adoption was an awful experience. Our child came home malnourished. Run...do not walk away from this agency!!
One in St. Louis and one in
One in St. Louis and one in Alabama. I used the one in St. Louis, and I question their ethics.
Would adopt with this agency again
I would adopt with this agency again. I felt comfortable they were doing their best. Have known Rudy a long time. Our lawyer in Guatemala was wonderful and the foster mother was absolutely unbelievable! If I were to adopt again, I wouldn't hesitate to use them.
Highly Recommended
COTW-MO was wonderful to work with! We recently brought our beautiful baby girl home in November 2007. It only took 10 month's from initiation to her coming home. The trip to Guatemala (instructions, advise, pick-up, interpreter, Lawyer In-Country) went smooth and was very well organized. COTW did everything described in the contract/fee schedule. We received updates, pictures and videos every month and felt well informed about changes happening in Guatemala. Our baby was with a wonderful foster family, loved and very well taken care of. Rudy and Maria are very special people who truly care about their babies. Prior to signing up with them, we had a terrible experience with another agency, waited 3 years with the Bulgarian and domestic programs and spent a lot of money with no results. We wish we had chosen COTW-MO the first time around. The social outings are nice and bring together parents going thru the process (past/present) to learn about others experiences. There were only a few minor things that we would have liked differently, but these may not have been under their control...
1) one office person gave us incorrect information regarding obtaining her social security number causing unnecessary trips to the SS office
2) her final court date took 6 months to schedule (last week vs. 2007)
3) we would have liked more than 3 days notice prior to the travel date because we could not use our freq. flyer miles and the air fare was substantially higher.
Other than those 3 issues which people should be made aware, it was a great experience. We would HIGHLY RECOMMEND COTW-MO to any prospective parents deciding to adopt, and have recommended them to other friends. We are very grateful for all they did in helping us get our precious baby.
We completed an adoption
We completed an adoption with this agency in 2007. We originally started with another agency, but switched to COTW because of problems we were having with our first agency. Overall, our experience was very good, and we would definitely use this agency again. In the very early stages of our process, our daughter received a concerning medical report, and COTW and the Guatemalan attorney were very understanding and made sure that our daughter was evaluated by the necessary specialists (these were all precautionary measures ... she is a perfectly healthy little girl). Our daughter had wonderful care, and we had no issues on our visit and pick-up trip. On a day-to-day basis, there were times that I would have liked more timely and thorough communciation, but in general, we were very pleased with our experience.
Awesome Experience
COTW-MO was fantastic in all phases in the process!! Took only 10 month's from initiation to bringing our blessed daughter home. Well organized on our visits to Guatemala (drop-off, pick-up, foster family, interpreter, Lawyer In-Country). We thought so much of Agency that we hired Rudy to navigate through issues/pratfalls our first agency walked away from (This is our second adoption from Guatemala). We truly wish we had chosen COTW-MO for our first adoption. I would highly recommend COTW-MO for any prospective parents deciding to adopt!!! Finally, we really enjoyed the social outings where they brought together parents going thru process (past/present) and it aided in our comfort realizing other's were facing similar situations.
My four adoptions!
I have known Rudy and Maria for 13 years. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about their ethics and their love for the children that they help find forever homes. I have adopted four times. Two with COTW and two times with Rudy when he worked for another agency. Rudy learned what not to do from the previous agency and is highly recognized in the embassy waiting area for his wonderful work. Each time, our lawyer helped several families while we sat and waited our turn. If I could, I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
We adopted a beautiful and amazing baby girl. Even with all the changes that were taking place in Guatemala and registering with the Central Authority, we still brought her home at 7 1/2 months of age. We are so happy that we worked with COTW and would definitely use their services again. They were very open and honest and answered any question that I had. During my 2 visits to Guatemala and my pickup, everything went completely smooth and the attorney that handled our case was excellent. I have nothing but great things to say about Rudy, Maria and all the staff at COTW. We are eternally grateful for all they did and would highly recommend them to anyone.
Highly recommend
I believe this agency is amazing. They are truely in it for the best interest of the children. They were extremely helpful during this process, and always honest about the risks during this unsettling time in Guatemala. They were responsive to my questions and if they did not have an answer they always followed up until they have one. I believe they are truely special and will always have a special place with my family.
Highly Recommend This Agency
We have nothing but great things to say about this agency. From start to finish, we felt like they were part of our extended family. We made several trips to Guatemla and they took care of everything. We brought home our beautiful baby girl in October 2007 and couldn't be happier. Mu husband and I would highly recommend this agency.
Overall a good experience
We completed our adoption in October and overall we had a very good experience. The agency did have some personnel changes which sometimes meants calls or e-mails weren't returned as fast, but I would still recommend them.
We visited our baby three times and experienced no problems with the pick-ups and drop-offs. Also we had a very good experience at the embassy, which we noticed was not the norm, while we were there waiting. The whole process took the length of time they projected and our baby had wonderful care and is doing great.
Did not have phone
Did not have phone calls/emails returned in timely manner... (took at least three phone calls to hear back)
At the time we adopted the agency was going through some growing pains and new employees- who were not experienced in Guatemala adoptions. Things are probably better now.
When going through our adoption- the yahoo group was INCREDIBLE. Really a great supportive bunch of parents. Still I would recommend them to others. ;)
Major problems with
Major problems with communication among the staff. One person never knew what the other person was handling or correct updates on how the case was proceeding. Added to the frustration level greatly.
I felt that the staff was
I felt that the staff was very disorganized and did not know what one another was doing. Calls and e-mails were not answered or returned at times. I received little help, nor felt like they cared, in pickup arrangements. However, there were no additional costs, just no support for a huge life changing task. I received monthly updates, but nothing more. There are so many things I could have done to make my experience better, but no one bothered to take that extra step. I'd paid my money so..
I know they experienced some staffing changes during my process and replacements were inexperienced, but I expected more than mediocrity from an agency. I can't say I would recommend them at this time. They would not be a horrible choice, but I know of a MUCH better agency.
The agency is great--and
The agency is great--and their Guatemalan attorney is very good, ethical, and reputable--the only problem is that he is slow and groups cases--so you may have to wait to move to the next stage in the process until there are others to be filed with your case. We were stuck in the Hague mess of 2003--but did bring our son home. Terri Thompson is great to work with--honest, ethical, a great communicator both phone and email. This is just not the fastest atty if you are wanting to bring your child home as fast as possible.
We completed an adoption
We completed an adoption with this agency in 2004. We brought our child home in 4 months, which was wonderful. However it was an extremely frustrating 4 months because of the difficulties this agancy had with communicating with/showing respect to their clients at the time.