Adoption Cost

Typical costs:

• According to Adoption.com^[1] , adoptions through the foster care system cost little or no money. Many states provide subsidies to adoptive parents. Step-parent or relative adoptions incur minimal cost, usually just court paperwork filing fees of roughly $100.
• A fact sheet from the Child Welfare Information Gateway^[2] says costs for agency and private adoptions average between $10,000 and $15,000. The cost varies based on a variety of factors including services provided, travel expenses, birthmother counseling and other expenses, as well as other legal requirements by the state in which the adoption takes place.
• International adoptions are the most expensive, ranging from $7,000 to $30,000. Costs include dossier and immigration processing and court costs, as well as travel costs to and from the country of adoption, translator and attorney fees, passport and visa processing fees, and medical costs.

• Every adoption requires some kind of "home study" to establish that the home the child is going to is appropriate. In cases of foster care adoptions, this is paid for by the state or local public agency. For private agency adoptions, the prospective parents pay for a social worker to conduct the home study, at an average cost $1,000 to $3,000. This fee may or may not be included in the overall agency fee. The Child Welfare Information Gateway^[3] provides in-depth detail of what a home study involves.
• All adoptions also require court documents to reflect the legal procedure. Document preparation costs range from $100 for foster care or relative adoptions to $2,000 for international adoptions. In certain adoptions, the prospective parents may require legal counsel, at an average hourly rate of $200-$250. FindLaw.com^[4] provides a legal guide on adoptions as well as a database of attorneys who specialize in adoption.

• Prospective parents often place advertisements, looking for expectant mothers or surrogates. Ads typically cost between $500 and $5,000. However, many states restrict these types of ads, as well as reimbursements to the birth mother. The Child Welfare Information Gateway^[5] lists laws regulating adoption expenses.

• In many cases, tax credits, subsidies, employer benefits, and loans or grants can help with adoption costs. The North American Council on Adoptable Children^[6] provides information on how to take advantage of federal adoption tax credits. In 2006, the credit was $10,960 per child. The IRS provides information on the Adoption Tax Credit^[7] and on the IRS Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number^[8] .
• Many agencies such as the Gift of Adoption Fund^[9] offer grants to pre-approved adopting parents who demonstrate an unusual degree of financial hardship. The National Adoption Foundation^[10] also provides information on grants and other financial options for prospective adoptive parents.
• According to the National Adoption Center^[11] , a growing number of companies and government agencies offer adoption benefits. These benefits can include a financial reimbursement for legal expenses, agency fees, medical expenses and post adoption counseling, as well as paid or unpaid leave.
• Adoption Friendly Workplace^[12] maintains a list of employers that offer adoption benefits such as financial assistance, paid leave, unpaid leave beyond the Family Leave Act.

• When dealing with an agency, Adoption.com^[13] suggests asking about the payment schedule, and about sliding scale fees if your financial resources are limited.
• The website for the Adoption Guide^[14] magazine provides databases to find adoption professionals such as agencies, attorneys and home study providers. It also includes guides for locating parent support groups, and handbooks on adoption-related topics.
• Parents.com^[15] also provides helpful articles on domestic and international adoptions, the issues adoptive parents may face, as well as real-life stories of parents who have adopted.

1.  www.adoption.com/
2.  /www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_cost/index.cfm
3.  /www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_homstu.cfm
4.  family.findlaw.com/adoption/adoption-overview/
5.  /www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/
6.  www.nacac.org/taxcredit/taxcredit.html
7.  www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html
8.  www.irs.gov/uac/Form-W-7A,-Application-for-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-for-Pend...
9.  www.giftofadoption.org/apply/applicationReviewProcess.html
10.  fundyouradoption.org/adoption-grants/
11.  www.adopt.org/assembled/financing_more.html
12.  www.davethomasfoundation.org/what-we-do/adoption-friendly-workplace/
13.  costs.adoption.com/
14.  www.theadoptionguide.com/advice/
15.  www.parents.com/parenting/adoption/

Check Out All Costs for Babies & Children		How Much Do Maternity Clothes Cost?		How Much Does a Car Seat Cost?		How Much Does Cord Blood Banking Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Staying cool during the summer extends to the car. How much is car air conditioning? Parks are opening and offering reservations. We cover camping gear. The hot summer weather has started. We cover the cost of central air conditioning. A BBQ grill could be handy to enjoy backyard activities during the summer months. Spring has sprung. Are you thinking about allergy shots?

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

Entertainer Paid: 250.00 I charge $150.00 for the first hour. It's 100.00 each additional hour. It really depends on cost of living, the skill level of the artist, and how much tax the balloon artist has to pay... [more] -AnthonyStone Balloon Twisting Cost Yeast infection Paid: 160.00 My 4 month old puppy had brown discharge and an odor coming from her ears. She was constantly scratching. Took her to her vet and explained; I know she has an infection in her ear... [more] -Pokémon trainer Pet Ear Infection Treatment Cost Retainer Paid: 20.00 I bought the warranty with my Invisalign through my orthodontist (do this... [more] -Braeden Retainers Cost Only paid remaining deductible Paid: 6500.00 My BCBS plan covered 100% of cost after deductible. My deductible was $8500 but I had already paid $2500 of that for previous medical procedures... [more] -Predatorhousepet Prosthetic Leg Cost Rewire whole house with all included Paid: 32909.00 Easy estimate for all of you, is stablish a category of houses. Cat 1: open wall, $13 per sqft Cat 2 Close walls, $16 per sqft and for cat 3, 2 story house, depending of age $18-$25 per sqft. Make your calculations... [more] -JG Electric Rewiring a House Cost Cost of care Paid: 0.00 Wow, some of these previous comments seriously concern me. We have a dentist carrying on about how much it cost for his entire education and the cost of building and supplying an entire office... [more] -Jason B Dental Implants Cost