Once prospective families are ready to start their Bulgaria International Adoption Process with Gladney, they will complete their adoption paperwork:

• Gladney Application
• Pathways Training if adopting a child over the age of 2
• Adoption Home Study
• Dossier

After a family receives approval, the dossier is sent to Gladney's partner agency in Bulgaria. The dossier is submitted to the Ministry of Justice. The International Adoption Committee reviews the applications of prospective adoptive families in the order they have been filed, and looks at the list of children available for adoption trying to make the best match according to each child’s needs.

Once a family receives the child's referral, limited information about that child is provided to the family.

However, the family does make 2 trips to Bulgaria. The first trip is for the family to meet the child they have been referred and talk with the orphanage workers.

Families adopting from Bulgaria typically complete their adoption within 18 months after the dossier is received in Bulgaria. Time frames depend on how quickly the family completes their application and dossier and age/gender preferences for the child.

To learn more about adopting from Bulgaria, please request one of Gladney's free, comprehensive Adoption Information Packets. Make your request on-line or by calling 1-800-INT-ADOP.