Adoption Cost

Adoption isn't free. There may be subsidies to cover certain expenses, but regardless of the kind of adoption process an adopter pursues, there's will at the very least be a case worker or attorney working hard to facilitate a successful adoption. The amount of fees and range of expenses depends on the kind of adoption.

Adoption cost is determined by the kind of adoption a couple chooses, however almost every adoption includes some form of legal expense and home study fee. On average, overall adoption costs begin around $2,500 and can go over $40,000. International adoptions can be among some of the most expensive adoptions as can infant adoption, due to birth mother expenses. The cheapest adoption routes are public foster care systems and religion-specific agencies.

Public adoption, is sometimes referred to as "free adoption" because of the kind of aid offered as incentive and reward for the adoption of older children or those with special needs. Public agencies are government-run as well, which allows for lower fees, if any.

Private adoption agencies are usually state-licensed, however, they reserve the right to adjust their adoption fees, services and regulations. Private adoption agencies primarily handled infant adoptions and, therefore, birth mother expenses will be factored into most agency fees. Regulations for caps on these expenses that adoptive parents can be responsible for covering are outlined by nearly all states.

For international adoption, there are a lot of fees unique to the adoption procedure. An international adoption may include visa and passport fees, the hiring of a translator and travel or medical expenses. Document preparation can cost between $500 and $2,000. And an attorney may cost $2,500 to $12,000.

The cost of a home study may include medical examinations and can cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

Devising a budget for an adoption and researching the available federal and state tax credits or exclusions and reimbursements or grants can help offset some of the heavy costs of adoption, particularly for special need adoptions.

Federal aid, given out under the Federal Title IV-E adoption assistance program, can provide nonrecurring or recurring aid that ends when a child is 18. Aid can include Medicaid assistance if the child is eligible for it, and often there is state assistance programs that can help with those costs as well.