Why is adoption so expensive?

There are many factors that contribute to the high cost of domestic adoption. From working with an adoption agency or service provider to legal documentation and fees, adoption home study costs, travel expenses, and costs related to a birthmother's medical needs and support, there are many moving parts in the adoption journey to consider. This is why many adoptive families seek out adoption financing through loans or other avenues. Furthermore, it's also why the adoption tax credit exists, which can help ease the expenses associated with adoption.

How do we ensure costs remain within our budget?

Many adoption agencies and service providers have strategies that they use to help keep the total cost of an adoption within a family's budget. However, there are often adoption expenses that come up unexpectedly. Should certain circumstances arise, such as a birthmother's situation exceeding a family's budget, hopeful parents can decline the opportunity to minimize costs. However, many adoptive parents pursue these opportunities anyway, seeking out alternative means to offset the cost of adoption.

If a planned adoption doesn't work out, what happens to the funds already provided?

Specific expenses directly related to a connection with an expectant mother, such as birthmother expenses, medical costs, and certain legal fees, are not usually refundable. Each adoption agency, provider, or attorney has its own policies regarding these funds, so it is important to review and understand these policies before entering into a connection.

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The Cost ofAdoption

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How Much Does Adoption Cost?

The average cost of adoption depends on a number of factors.

The average cost of adoption depends on a number of factors, including the type of adoption professionals or service providers you work with, court and legal fees, travel requirements, how much financial support for birthmothers is permitted by state law, and more. Because these adoption costs vary from one adoption to the next, it's very difficult to give an exact estimate up front. However, we can provide a general breakdown of expected costs so families can be well-informed.

Below, we will break down the different types of adoption expenses you can expect.

Types of Adoption Expenses

Here's a transparent breakdown of the different types of adoption expenses you can expect.

Adoption Home Study

$1,500 - $3,000

In order to legally adopt a baby in the United States, you must have a completed adoption home study from a licensed social worker or agency. The cost of getting a home study is determined by the individual or agency performing the home study, and may include a separate application fee. Home study fees are paid directly to the individual or agency conducting the home study.

Learn about home studies →

Adoption Marketing & Advertising

$20,000 - $25,000

If you're working with a professional or organization that provides marketing and advertising as part of their adoption services, there will be a fee associated with those efforts. This usually includes online and offline advertising, as well as the creation of an adoptive family profile that allows families to be presented to expectant mothers. These fees also typically include nationwide networking with adoption professionals, such as hospitals, doctors, agencies, shelters, women's centers, and more.

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Adoption Legal Fees / Agency Fees

$6,000 - $15,000

After you've been chosen by an expectant mother and she decides to move forward with you in an official capacity, it will be your responsibility to retain legal services, and/or the services of an adoption agency. An adoption attorney or agency is always required to represent you in an adoption, but depending on state laws, you may also need to retain services for the expectant mother in her state. Those fees are paid directly to the attorney and/or agency.

Birthmother Expenses

$5,000 - $10,000

After legal services are retained, the expectant mother is often legally allowed to receive financial assistance from the adoptive family. A caseworker or adoption attorney will meet with the expectant mother and put together an outline of her financial needs for the remainder of her pregnancy and a certain period of time after birth. Fees cover general reasonable living expenses such as housing, transportation, food, phone, and medical. These funds can only be distributed through an attorney or agency.

Travel Expenses

$500 - $8,000

Every family can expect some level of travel during their adoption journey, especially if you are chosen by an expectant mother who does not live near you. This could include traveling to meet the expectant mother, traveling to the hospital for the birth, traveling to court for finalization, and more. It's also important to be prepared for unexpected, last-minute travel expenses.

The Adoption Tax Credit

Currently $17,280

The Adoption Tax Credit, simply put, is a set amount of money that can be credited toward your annual federal taxes. Unlike a tax deduction, with a tax credit, a family can get a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction of taxes owed, provided they qualify for the credit.

Learn more about the Adoption Tax Credit →

Conclusion

The average cost of adoption incorporates a number of different expenses and fees based on a family's location, travel, legal requirements, and more. It can seem overwhelming and intimidating, but there are opportunities that help prospective parents offset the costs and fulfill their dreams of raising a child. The road to adoption is long, but it can end in one of the most rewarding outcomes.

If you have any questions or concerns about the adoption process, please contact us. At Angel Adoption, our goal is to help you grow your family, and we want you to experience the memories, special moments, and limitless love that welcoming a newborn into your home can bring.