get it in writing

Signing up with an international adoption agency is a huge step in the adoption process. These are the people who will help you find your child, so its critical that you have a great working relationship with them.
With that in mind here are some things you need to make sure your new agency provides you with BEFORE you sign on the dotted line.
FEES - Your new agency should have provided you with a complete list of fees and when they need to be paid. While you can almost guarantee there will be unexpected expenses (airline ticket increases, federal government fee changes, your agency should be able to explain and estimate the standard fees.

CONTRACTS - The agency should give you all the contracts that you will need to sign and give you time to review them. Go over the contracts carefully and consider the commitment you are about to make - both financial and otherwise.

REFUND POLICY - The agency should be up front about their refund policy. It is critical to have this information case anything changes in the course of the adoption. Your family circumstances aren't the only changes that can happen in the adoption process. Countries can change their policies which can impact your adoption. Its best to be prepared.

SERVICES - Your new agency should provide you with a list of services they will provide including and post-placement services if applicable. If your agency isn't in your state, you will need to find someone who can do your homestudy and post-placement reports. It is also important to find out if your agency will provide translation, courier or notary services. If not, ask them for recommendations.

COUNTRY INFO - Your agency should be able to provide you with information on the country you will be adopting from - including details on the agency's contacts. If you will be traveling to complete the adoption, you need to know who you will be working with. The agency should also be upfront with you in about the status of adoptions from the countries you are considering.

Source: Joint Council on International Children's Services