We have a good friend in a Central American who just died from cancer, leaving 4 children, ages 18, 15, 8 & 5, plus an older married daughter. We looked into adopting the children, but we told that the US adoption agency fees would be $10,000 to $15,000 (I was afraid to ask if that was for the whole family, or per child) plus $5,000 for legal fees in the Central American country.
A bit more checking revealed that the adoptive parents can be no more that 45 years older than the child. That ended our quest.
The Adoption Industry, bolstered by The Hague Adoption Convention, seems to hinder, rather than facilitate the process.
(the two youngest children will live with their oldest sister. We will do what we can for the older two, plus they have a very good local church.)
wouldn’t the 18 year old be able to take custody of the 15 year old?