Some families seek to save adoption services costs by completing an "independent adoption".

But some lawyers said they feared that insuring independent adoptions could also increase abuses.

There are also no reliable data on the number of independent adoptions that fall through.

An independent adoption is usually arranged by an attorney, with full openness in identities between the birth and adoptive parents.

Eighty-five percent of all newborn adoptions in California are accomplished via independent adoption.

Private agencies focus primarily on newborn placements, like independent adoption, but many also serve waiting children.

Private adoption agencies, like attorneys in an independent adoption, can charge what they feel is appropriate for the services rendered.

Like independent adoption, the birth mother may have expenses for the adoptive parents to provide.

But social workers say the great majority of independent adoptions are handled by lawyers.

But for others, independent adoption - where mothers have been known to decide to keep the baby, after all - seems too risky.