The reason AdoptTogether exists is to help adoptive families overcome the financial barriers to adoption. We understand just how burdensome these costs can be and how quickly they accumulate. Here is a basic breakdown of the average cost of each type of adoption:
- Foster Care Adoption: $0 – $5,000
- Embryo Adoption: $7,500 – $19,500
- Domestic – Private Agency Adoption: $20,000 – $45,000
- Domestic – Independent Adoption: $15,000 – $40,000
- International Adoption: $25,000 – $50,000
One of the most important things to remember when pursuing adoption is to get your fee structure upfront. Whether going through an agency or attorney, the best thing is to be prepared and avoid being blindsided by expenses you didn’t see coming.
Sadly, there is no shortage of individuals and organizations looking to profit from the vulnerability of adoptive parents and birth moms everywhere, so make sure your agency is accredited and above board when it comes to all of its billing procedures.
Here’s a list of the most common expenses related to the adoption process:
- Agency fees
- Home study
- Attorney fees
- Counseling
- Medical expenses
- Dossier preparation
- Visa and Passport fees
- Travel expenses
- Temporary foster care
- Birth certificate
- Court costs
Domestic Newborn Adoption Cost Estimates & Breakdown
(Will vary greatly based on agency and/or attorney used)*
- Home Study Fee = $1,500-2,500
- Documentation Preparation & Authentication = $1000
- Adoption Agency Application & Program Fees = $5,000-$20,000
- Adoption Consultant Fees = $1,000-$3,000
- Attorney Fees = $4,200 – $15,000
- Advertising & Networking = $500-$2,500
- Birth Family Counseling = $500-$1,000
- Birth Mother Expenses = $3,000-$5,000
- Foster Care = $100-$400
- Travel Expenses = $1,000 – $3,000
- Post-Placement Expenses = $500-$2,000
- Miscellaneous Expenses = $1,000 – $3,000
International Adoption Estimates & Breakdown
(Costs will vary depending on Country & adoption agency and/or attorney)*
- Home Study Fee = $2,000 – $2,500
- Documentation Preparation & Authentication = $2,000 – $5,000
- Adoption Agency Application & Program Fees = $10,000 – $15,000
- In-Country Adoption Expenses = $1,000 – $5,000
- Child Passport, Visa, Medical Exam, and Other Fees = $500 – $1,500
- Travel Expenses = $5,000 – $10,000
- Post-Adoption Expenses = $1,000 – $3,000
- Miscellaneous Expenses = $1,000 – $3,000
Foster Care Adoption Estimates & Breakdown
(Costs will vary by each state)*
- Home Study Fee = $500
- Documentation Preparation & Authentication = $100
- Attorney Fees = $1,000
- Travel Expenses = $500
- Miscellaneous Expenses = $200- $500
Average costs & item breakdowns aggregated from AdoptiveFamilies.com & FundYourAdoption.tv
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy:
Testimonial: 5 Important Crowdfunding Reminders
Remember... You're Not Alone "Feeling scared to ask people for money? Me too!" Most of the families I have talked with about starting their AdoptTogether crowd fundraising say, “I am nervous to ask people for money.” I felt the same way when we started crowd...
Andrea Wittig: The First AdoptTogether Family on Crowdfunding Tips
Andrea Wittig's family was the first family ever to fundraise for their adoption on AdoptTogether. The Wittigs were able to crowdfund over $35,000 to adopt their child form Uganda. Watch her interview here with our AdoptTogether Editorial Team and learn how you...
What is a Home Study?
The Basics A home study is a document telling the story of your family: who you are (both past and present), what values you hold, what your finances are like, your health history, your reasons for adopting, how you plan to parent, etc. An approved home study means...
7 TED Talks about Adoption
1. How I Use the Internet to Build Families | Hank Fortener https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csimKako7_s&t=5s It's the pain inside of you, the mark the world left on you, that is the mark that you will then leave on the world. Ask yourself the question "What mark do I...
South Africa Adoptions: 5 Things To Know
1. Open to Adoptive Parents of all Backgrounds South Africa is open to all types of adoptive parents– single men & women, married and unmarried couples, and LGBTQ parents. The South Africa government is committed to a practice of non-discrimination and we’ve seen...
About The Journey: From One Adoptive Mom To Another
by Stormy Woolridge, International Adoptive Mother Each adoption journey if different. It is your family's story so don't expect your journey to be like anyone else's. Adoption stories and the processes are as different as each family. Try to be present in each...
5 Great TED Talks About Parenting
1. For parents, happiness is a very high bar by Jennifer Senior The parenting section of the bookstore is overwhelming—it's "a giant, candy-colored monument to our collective panic," as writer Jennifer Senior puts it. Why is parenthood filled with so much anxiety?...
7 Essential Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Adoption Professional: Agencies, Attorneys, or Facilitators
Choosing an adoption professional to guide you along your adoption journey can be tough! Make sure you're getting the best care from a licensed professional near you by asking these essential questions: 1. Are they licensed to work in your state? It’s important to...
Attorneys, Agencies, and Facilitators: Three Things To Consider
When you begin your adoption journey, one of the first major decisions you’ll have to make is what type of adoption you will pursue (link to types of adoption article). Domestic adoptions are by far the most common, and should you choose to pursue a domestic...
5 Great Resources For Birth Mothers
AdoptTogether sat down to interview Celeste Liversidge about her work with TruAdopt and found out how adoption professionals are working to redefine the way Birth Moms are not only perceived but protected by both adoption professionals & adoptive families. ...