Adoption Costs

One of the first questions prospective adoptive parents may have about adoption is what the expenses will be and if they will be able to afford them. Adoption costs depend on several things including whether the adoption is domestic or international, whether the adoption is from a public or private agency, what the child's circumstances and age are, whether the child has special needs or not, what the birthmother expenses include and the amount of subsidies, federal and state tax credits, employer adoption benefit packages and reimbursements available for the specific adoptive parents and child. Depending on the adoptive parents' income a significant amount of the total cost can be reimbursed.

Domestic public agency adoptions (children waiting in foster care) typically costs between almost nothing up to approximately $3,000. Many of these children have special needs such as developmental disabilities, behavioral and emotional problems as well as physical limitations. The majority are older and/or have siblings who need to be adopted by the same family. Some are of a minority group. State and federal subsidies may be available for children with special needs who are adopted from US public agencies. Fees are often waived in domestic public agency adoptions. These adoptions are generally the least expensive of all adoptions.

Domestic private agency adoptions (which are licensed by their state) typically range from $5,000 to possibly over $30,000. These fees can include such things as the application fee, homestudy, post-placement supervision and certain birthmother expenses (like living expenses, medical costs and counseling). Birthparent expenses are restricted to a specific amount depending the state. Private adoption agencies may have a sliding scale for fees depending in the adoptive family's income.

Domestic independent (or private) adoptions generally range anywhere from $8,000 to possibly $35,000, depending on numerous factors. Some states in the US still do not allow independent adoptions. Fees for independent adoptions can include such things as attorney fees (including legal representation for the birthparents), birth and medical expenses for the birthmother and baby and advertising costs if applicable. Independent adoption costs tend to be less predictable than agency adoptions.

International adoptions typically range from $10,000 to possibly over $35,000. Fees for international adoptions can include such things as travel expenses, attorney fees and court costs, visa application and filing fees, dossier preparation, homestudy, medical care and physical exams, translation fees, agency fees and required donations to the orphanage if applicable. International adoption costs vary considerably depending on whether or not the child is in a government orphanage or is being placed by a charitable organization. In these cases, the adoption may be a little less expensive.