Adopting A Newborn: Understanding The True Cost

Adopting a child can be a wonderful, yet complex, way to grow your family. However, it can be an expensive process, with the average cost of adopting a child in the United States ranging from $20,000 to $45,000. The cost of adoption varies depending on the type of adoption and the circumstances surrounding it. For instance, adopting through the foster care system can be accomplished for under $2,600 and is often entirely free, whereas a private adoption can cost upwards of $40,000. International adoptions are also typically more expensive than domestic adoptions, with costs ranging from $20,000 to $70,000.

Domestic adoption costs

Parents can expect private adoption agencies to be more expensive, with costs ranging from $30,000 to $60,000. These fees include legal fees ($1,500–$4,500), court documentation fees ($500–$2,000), home studies ($1,000–$3,000), counselling and medical expenses for birth parents, training for adoptive parents, and interim childcare.

For an independent domestic adoption, where parents find the birth mother without an agency and use an adoption lawyer to facilitate the legal aspects, costs can range from $15,000 to $40,000. Adoption costs can also vary by state, as adoption laws differ across the United States.

There are ways to lower the financial burden of adoption expenses, such as employee benefits, tax credits, loans, or grants. Over half of employers provide some form of adoption benefit, and adoptive parents may qualify for federal tax credits for the year in which the adoption is finalized. Additionally, federal and state subsidies are available for foster care adoption, and active-duty military members may be eligible for reimbursements of up to $2,000 for domestic or international adoption expenses.

International adoption costs

Country of Adoption

The country from which you adopt will significantly impact the overall cost of the international adoption process. Here are some examples of average international adoption costs by country:

• Bulgaria: $22,000–$29,000 + travel
• China: $32,000–$41,000 + travel
• Colombia: $22,000–$26,000 + travel
• Haiti: $26,000–$32,000 + travel
• India: $21,000–$25,000 + travel
• Latvia: $23,000–$30,000 + travel
• Philippines: $15,000–$20,000 + travel
• Poland: $20,000–$27,000 + travel
• South Korea: $43,000–$52,000 + travel
• Taiwan: $22,000–$27,000 + travel
• Thailand: $27,000–$31,000 + travel
• Ukraine: $23,000–$32,000 + travel
• Uganda: $24,000–$30,000 + travel

Travel Expenses

International adoptions often require travel to the country of adoption, which can be costly, especially with little advance notice. Travel expenses include airfare, accommodations, meals, and local transportation.

Agency Fees

Adoption agency fees vary depending on the agency and the country of adoption. These fees typically cover services such as matching parents with children, communication with authorities, and caring for the child before placement. Agency fees can range from $4,750 to $18,000.

Documentation Fees

Documentation fees cover the costs of compiling and authenticating the required paperwork, including the dossier, translations, and passport and visa fees for the child. These fees can range from $1,000 to $4,000.

Foster-to-adopt costs

Foster-to-adopt is one of the three types of adoption, the other two being domestic adoption and international adoption. Foster-to-adopt is when prospective parents become foster parents and care for children who have entered the foster care system. It is important to note that the ultimate goal of foster care is to reunite children with their birth parents, so the option to adopt is never guaranteed.

Adopting a child through the foster care system is generally less expensive than domestic or international adoption. In the US, foster-to-adopt can be accomplished for under $2,600 and is often entirely free. This is because these adoptions are through the public child welfare system, and the agency holds custody until the children are adopted. As a result, most of the fees are the responsibility of the public system.

There are some costs that can occur, including home studies and other out-of-pocket fees, but these are typically reimbursable and range from $0 to $3,000. In some states, the home study can be waived, saving prospective parents between $1,000 and $2,000. Additionally, forms can be filed without an attorney, saving an average of $1,000.

The government provides foster parents with a monthly stipend for childcare while fostering, and if adoption is approved, the government also assists with legal and professional fees. A 2016-2017 survey by Adoptive Families Magazine found that adopting a child from foster care costs an average of $2,938.

Private adoption costs

The cost of adopting a child privately varies depending on the type of adoption and the circumstances surrounding it. Private adoption costs can range from $15,000 to $60,000.

Domestic Adoption

Adopting an infant in the United States is the most expensive option, with costs ranging from $20,000 to $45,000. This price includes legal fees, home studies, travel and lodging, court fees, and medical and living expenses for the birth parent.

International Adoption

International adoption costs vary depending on the country of adoption but typically range from $20,000 to $50,000. This option involves additional costs such as travel and hotel expenses for multiple trips to the country before and during the adoption process.

Foster-to-Adopt

Adopting a child from the foster care system is the most affordable option, with costs ranging from $0 to $3,000. These costs are typically reimbursable, and the adoption may qualify for state or federal subsidies that follow the child until they turn 18 or 21.

Independent Domestic Adoption

In an independent domestic adoption, parents find the birth mother without an agency and use an adoption lawyer to facilitate the legal aspects and paperwork. This option typically costs between $15,000 and $40,000.

Private Agency Adoption

Adopting through a private agency is more expensive than an independent adoption, with costs ranging from $30,000 to $60,000. Agencies may offer a sliding scale based on the adoptive parents' income.

Adoption Through an Attorney

Adopting through an attorney without involving an agency typically costs between $8,000 and $40,000, with an average of $10,000 to $15,000.

Additional Costs

It's important to note that there may be additional costs beyond the initial adoption fees. These can include advertising costs to find a birth mother, consulting fees, travel expenses, and legal fees for terminating the rights of the birth parents and finalizing the adoption.

The adoption process can be lengthy and complex, and it's essential for prospective parents to carefully consider their options and understand the associated costs before beginning their journey.

Legal fees

Agency Adoption:

When adopting through an agency, the agency typically handles the entire legal process, from beginning to end. The agency fee often includes legal services provided by adoption attorneys or lawyers who facilitate the legal aspects, such as terminating the birth parents' rights, court filings, and finalising the adoption. Agency adoption fees can range from $30,000 to $40,000 or more, depending on the agency and the specific services provided.

Independent Adoption:

In an independent adoption, the adoptive family works independently to find a birth mother through advertising or networking. They then engage the services of an adoption agency and/or an attorney to handle the legal aspects of the adoption. The legal fees in this case can range from $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case and the attorney's fees. These costs may include legal representation for both the adoptive and birth parents, court filings, and finalisation of the adoption.

International Adoption:

International adoption, or intercountry adoption, often involves working with private or public adoption agencies in the country of origin. In addition to standard legal fees, there may be additional costs associated with passports, visas, and naturalisation of the child, and other legal requirements specific to the country. International adoption costs can range from $15,000 to $45,000 or more, including legal and travel expenses.

Foster Care Adoption:

Adopting through the foster care system typically incurs minimal legal fees, as many of the costs are covered by the state or federal government. However, there may still be some legal expenses, such as attorney fees, which can vary depending on the state and the specific circumstances of the adoption. Foster care adoption is generally the least expensive option, with total costs averaging around $2,744, according to Adoptive Families Magazine.

It is important to note that legal fees are just one component of the overall cost of adoption, which can also include expenses such as home studies, travel, medical costs, and living expenses for the birth mother. The total cost of adopting a newborn can range from $8,000 to $45,000 or more, depending on the type of adoption and the specific circumstances.

Frequently asked questions