How much does it cost to adopt a child?

There are approximately 131,000 children in the foster care system eligible for adoption. The governmental agencies may be willing to waive their usual fees, and reimburse you for adoption costs. In some states you may also be eligible for adoption subsidies.

Additionally, if there are out of pocket costs for the adoption, the family may receive a reimbursement and an adoption tax credit. For instance, adoptions of many children from foster care will allow families to receive a $10,000 tax credit, regardless of their actual adoption expenses. If you decide to adopt a special needs child you may also receive a monthly payment for as much as $250 to $300 to pay for medical assistance, psychological counseling, daycare and tutoring.

Cost of Private Adoptions

If a family chooses to adopt through a private, domestic adoption agency the price can vary from $5,000 to $40,000 or more depending on a variety of factors such as services provided, travel expenses, birthmother expenses, counseling needs, cost of a home study, medical expenses, requirements in the state, and other factors.

Cost of Independent Adoption

Families may also choose to adopt independently. An independent adoption allows a family to hire a adoption attorney and work with a social worker to adopt a child rather than using an adoption agency. Independent adoptions are very common, although it is important to work with an adoption lawyer who understands the rules governing independent adoptions in your state.

Through an independent adoption you may have more control over the adoption process. In some states you can do the search on your own by networking through social media or placing advertisements in the local paper or you can hire an adoption lawyer to do the search for you. Independent adoptions can take six months or more to complete. Independent adoptions have risks so it is important to work with a good adoption or family law lawyer. They can also be very costly. It is not uncommon for an independent adoption to cost anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000, especially if there are high medical costs for the birth mother.

International Adoptions and Costs

International adoptions allow U.S. citizens to adopt a child from another country. One of the major benefits of international adoption is there is generally a shorter wait time to receive a child. One downside for an international adoption is the paperwork can be very difficult. Consider also, choosing experienced and responsible professionals is important because adoption scams can occur overseas as well in the United States. Changes in political environments in different countries can also slow or derail an international adoption.

The costs to adopt a child internationally may be as expensive as domestic adoption. Currently the cost can range from $10,000 to more than $30,000, depending on the requirements of the foreign country.